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A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 



4 


A 

CELESTIAL 

MESSAGE 


A Relation of the Observations 
and Experiences of a Philosopher 
and Poet in the Spirit World 


RECORDED BY 

ERASTUS C. GAFFIELD 

•i 

PRIVATE EDITION 


BOSTON 

LEE AND SHEPARD 

MCMII 







!£>F \"50 \ 

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Copyright, 1902, by Erastus C. Gaffield. 


All rights reserved. 


A Celestial Message. 


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Press of George H. Ellis Co. 
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THE SPIRIT WORLD, 

GLADLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE MESSAGE IT CONTAINS 
WAS RECEIVED FROM ONE OF ITS PHILOSOPHERS AND 
POETS, TWENTY YEARS AGO WITH US IN MATERIAL FORM, 
NOW IN THE FIFTH SPHERE, STILL LABORING FOR THE 
PROMOTION OF THE CAUSE OF TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUS¬ 
NESS AMONG MEN, THIS BOOK IS REVERENTLY DEDICATED. 



INTRODUCTION. 


In the first conditions of his life upon 
earth, man was unable to perceive the 
possible evolution of a higher correspond¬ 
ence of spirit in consciousness ; the subtle 
laws which obtained in the spiritual 
spheres were not realized. He received 
no conscious revelations from celestial 
sources, nor did he perceive what destiny 
held in store for his race, nor what would 
be its part in a world of cosmic, and, ap¬ 
parently, antithetical forces. He had but 
very limited, if any, conception of his in¬ 
herent, natural, spiritual powers. He had 
learned little or nothing of nature, nor 
knew that its laws were subject to ex¬ 
ploitation, through researches for which 



A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


only he possessed the latent capacity of 
organization and pursuit. 

It has required many centuries of wars, 
struggles, famines, disease, and other edu¬ 
cational forces to enable him to even 
imperfectly realize his relation and re¬ 
sponsibility to the law, under which he 
incarnated and went forth, a free moral 
agent, into a world of an infinite number 
and variety of undeveloped resources. 

Yet above all other creations of Infinite 
Love he was to be the most important 
factor, the only intelligent exponent of 
the universal life. His spiritual origin 
antedates all conception and measure of 
time. Notwithstanding the lapse of un¬ 
numbered centuries, since his first appear¬ 
ance upon earth, his present imperfect 
knowledge of his real environments, and 
often his inability to correctly perceive the 
meaning of the spiritual laws with which 
his own destiny is so intimately related, 

viii 


INTRODUCTION 


are both unitary and collective evidence, 
that in the evolutionary progress of his 
soul to its final complete mastery of all 
conditions and states he has still much to 
accomplish, many imperfections to correct, 
before he will attain to the state of perfect 
harmony. Yet from age to age he has 
progressively unfolded an increasing capac¬ 
ity of analysis and reason. 

Through the intuitions and in con¬ 
sciousness also he has, in recent times, 
realized in a larger ratio, than in any of 
the earlier periods of his earth existence, 
such progress as distinctly indicates his 
deific origin, and that he will accomplish 
the conquest of self, the final, sublime 
victory. 

Though a limited unit of force, often 
incorrectly manifesting reason, intuition, 
perception, ideality, and other allied at¬ 
tributes of the soul, he has so far advanced 
toward the accomplishment of his destiny 

ix 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


that he now receives impressions which 
are indeed the foregleams of a spiritual 
apotheosis. 

At the commencement of this century 
he is probably better able than at any 
preceding time, to forecast the intimate 
affinities which will, in the future, bridge 
the apparent chasm between the objective 
and subjective spheres of life. 

Certain delicately organized and gifted 
children of humanity have advanced to a 
definite and clear realization of the basic 
principles of divine harmony, received rev¬ 
elations concerning the laws of spiritual 
vibration, and of other laws relating to the 
many important issues of life. The sum 
of all such teachings has superseded, in 
the consciousness of many, what had be¬ 
fore been incorrectly taught about such 
matters. 

Heterodoxy is not now a term of re¬ 
proach, for he that is accused of heresy 


INTRODUCTION 


knows the truth through personal experi¬ 
ence, confidently expects that some time 
his less informed brother will, through 
aspiration for the Eternal Good, realize 
more of truth, beauty and love in the 
kingdom of spirit. He has learned that 
spiritual wisdom, possible to receive from 
higher sources, is the natural birthright of 
every one, though not yet properly valued, 
nor the means of perfecting its potentiali¬ 
ties sufficiently recognized. Such knowl¬ 
edge is the most important factor in the 
life here, and absolutely necessary for the 
consummation of harmonial relations here¬ 
after. 

In order to realize the soul’s aspirations 
for a constant, progressive unfoldment, 
the teachings of the higher thought 
movement could be profitably adopted as 
part of the curriculum in all educational 
institutions, especially in the leading uni¬ 
versities of the world, and be made obli¬ 
gatory in all post-graduate courses. 


XI 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


The larger contributors to such causes 
may well seek the higher inspiration when 
dictating the uses to which their bene¬ 
factions shall be applied. The world’s 
great teachers of other times, with knowl¬ 
edge increased by later experiences and 
observation, will, I am quite convinced, 
gladly co-operate in such promotions, 
when those entrusted to lead others shall 
have advanced to correspondences that 
permit the influx of wisdom from spheres 
where truth is the law of being. 

The subject matter of this little book 
was received from a source to leave no 
doubt in the mind of the scribe of its es¬ 
sential correctness, though he, as an 
instrument, used for its transmission, 
acknowledges many imperfections, which 
have doubtless detracted from the perfec¬ 
tion of its revelation. 

He has tried faithfully to reproduce in 
their entirety the vibrations of celestial 


INTRODUCTION 


thought as received. When, however, it 
is understood that all such revelations 
and the mode of their expressions are in 
a measure modified and limited by human 
organism, he trusts the work will re¬ 
ceive the indulgent consideration of its 
readers. 

Erastus C. Gaffield. 

Boston, 1902. 











































CHAPTER I. 


Several important questions have been 
asked and variously answered,— such as, 
“ If a man die shall he live again ? ” 
“ What is truth ? ” “ Show me the Father, 
and it sufficeth me,” and others of like 
import; while but a few, however, have 
asked to have the realities of excarnate 
life shown them or described. No doubt 
the majority have always believed that the 
mystery could not be revealed; and the 
small minority, accepting the facts of 
spirit intercommunication, have, from va¬ 
rious causes, been prevented from receiv¬ 
ing in an intelligent manner the infor¬ 
mation which can be given and can be 
usefully applied to the moral and intel¬ 
lectual instruction of many. This is the 
only apology or explanation I desire to 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


offer for attempting that which, as yet, 
has not been satisfactorily accomplished. 

Coming into relation with one not un¬ 
known within these latitudes, I realize 
his willingness to act as an amanuensis 
in the transmission of such facts as I may 
be able to impress upon his mind, relative 
to certain generic conditions of spirit life 
which will be more fully explained in suc¬ 
ceeding chapters. As the higher intelli¬ 
gences never fail and are always identified 
with success and accomplish all things 
which they consider advisable to under¬ 
take, I, also, shall rely upon them for 
assistance. 

For identification, I will state that sev¬ 
eral years ago one who was adjudged a 
student, poet, and philosopher, having 
worked much for his fellow-men, in the 
ordinary operations of nature’s unchang¬ 
ing law, passed out from his always rather 
delicate frame, and, after a short time in a 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


semi-conscious condition, awoke to the 
reality of being. What he has subse¬ 
quently experienced, observed in others, 
and learned in various ways during his 
sojourn in the spirit world, will form the 
subject matter of this book. 

First: The sleep, about which not very 
much can be said, except that it is an ex¬ 
perience, varying in duration, but always 
sufficiently extended to permit the astral 
form (which at first develops in weakness, 
corresponding in many respects to the 
state of the physical organism at the time 
of its separation from the spirit), to attract 
from matter in its various conditions such 
life forces as the electrical and magnetic 
elements contain, to enable the spirit to 
clothe itself and to pass into correspond¬ 
ences which its previous environments, as¬ 
pirations, spiritual life and consciousness 
have created for it. Here, then, is practically 
the starting-point of the soul in its new 


3 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


condition, though the continued and mani¬ 
fested purpose of the Great Oversoul 
operating through law has not yet been 
revealed. Its philosophy may have been 
studied to advantage upon planes of 
human habitation. The pictures painted 
by imagination now will either fade alto¬ 
gether, or come into fuller beauty with 
their value increased a thousand-fold. 

In this corridor of the great court, pre¬ 
sided over by the inner consciousness, each 
juror, with ample evidence before him,— 
unmistakably true and impossible to refute, 
— individualizes judgment upon his own 
previous life and prescribes penalties and 
methods of execution. Nor have such 
judgments and penalties ever been at 
variance with justice. Not an instance of 
appeal, if there be such, in all the eons of 
eternity. Here is a tribunal without attor¬ 
neys, except it be as parties in interest, 
without expense, clients constantly chang- 


4 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


ing, but a single case upon the docket 
never missed, working with perfect regu¬ 
larity, always dispensing absolute equity! 

How is this accomplished ? 

I confess that at first it seemed to me a 
marvel, a wondrous arrangement contrived 
by some illuminated genius peculiar to the 
spiritual life; but, upon investigation, the 
matter appeared very simply arranged and 
perfectly adjusted for objects to be attained. 
There was not the suggestion or least 
evidence of revenge. 

There was no great white throne, nor 
any Eternal Judge in propria persona or 
“ by attorney in fact ” pronouncing awful 
dooms upon miscreants; made such partly 
through inheritances from all the ages, and 
largely by environments. Nothing of such 
a sort. 

I have spoken of the spirit’s semi-con¬ 
scious state and of attracting to itself 
from matter an astral covering, a robe, if 
you so please to call it. 


5 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Now there are a good many peculiar¬ 
ities about those robes, which it seems to 
me perfectly proper and right that I 
should explain. 

How are they formed ? Are they all of 
the same texture? What is their color? 

These, and many other questions you 
may well ask, for every son of earth must 
wear one in his turn. 

Upon entrance to the spirit life he will 
have no choice in its selection. Previ¬ 
ously, while upon earth, he will have 
exhausted all opportunities, manufactured 
the fibre, created the loom and woven the 
web, but perhaps unknown and uncon¬ 
sciously, have also, like water lines in 
finest tissue of paper or silk, stamped 
thereon a full and correct record of his 
principal acts, whether influenced from 
love or revenge, generosity or hatred, har¬ 
mony or discord; and the colors of these 
lines, now brought out with special dis- 


6 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


tinctness, luminous and bright as they 
may be, or dark, grim, and to the con¬ 
scious soul, now sensitive to thousands of 
heretofore unperceived vibrations, horri¬ 
ble to the eye and distinct evidence of 
shame and dishonor, from which the spirit 
shrinks in terror. And yet, through the 
law of attractions and similars, there is for 
the time no other garment for the hu¬ 
miliated and disgraced spirit. 

Imagine a great concourse in your 
city,* with which I am familiar, starting 
from the capitol, headed by the governor 
and staff, followed by leading military and 
civic officers and citizens, finally including 
those in lowest states of physical and 
moral conditions. You have but a faint 
picture, rather indefinite and not wholly 
parallel, for some of those leading in such 
a procession should perhaps be relegated 
to the rear, but the contrast will suffice to 
illustrate the idea. 

* Boston, Mass. 


7 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Here the moral qualities have survived 
the change, and are represented in colors 
of beauty. The absence of those attri¬ 
butes, indicating imperfect developments, 
are also fully expressed. 

Each goes to his own plane in that 
great realm, co-extensive with the uni¬ 
verse, and filled with attractions peculiar 
to and fitting the conditions that his su¬ 
premacy of desires have created. 

This I first observed, and, understand¬ 
ing something of spiritual rewards and 
penalties, was not surprised, though the 
practical operation of the law was some¬ 
what different from preconceived ideas 
upon the subject. 

In the great ocean of living thought 
entities and vibrations upon higher planes 
than I had ever realized while upon earth, 
I saw many manifestations of the law, 
which I had previously, through intuition, 
perceived as having possible expression; 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


but, in the assumption of their expression, 
I recalled having suffered severe criti¬ 
cisms of those supposed to know many 
things. 

There were other matters of consider¬ 
able importance, revealed in these first 
lessons on the spirit side, that had never 
been suggested to me, nor do I know that 
others have upon earth ever received any 
revelations in regard to them. 

I noticed that the excarnated spirit ne¬ 
ophytes were under the necessity, or at 
least so considered themselves, of observ¬ 
ing laws relative to hunger and thirst, and 
with some, this matter seemed to create 
the greatest consternation and fear. 

About them, in great abundance, existed 
every element, perfectly adapted to the 
necessities of all; but, in proportion to the 
moral ignorance and depravity of earthly 
states, the fear seemed to increase, and 
consequently the inability to take advan- 


9 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


tage of the situation. From this cause 
many, especially those who had enjoyed 
the rich favors of earth but who never con¬ 
tributed to the personal comfort of others, 
seemed to suffer the most. 

At this point of spiritual experience, 
contrition — partly resulting from hunger 
and from other causes also — seemed to 
be very sincere and absolute. As they 
could easily read their own records, and 
every special deed done in the body, no 
doubt ample reasons were found for the 
deplorable mental states of those whom I 
found in such sore distress. 

Here let me state that it is not given to 
those upon the same planes of vibration 
to fully read the records of others, though 
the general appearances of robes do 
plainly and sufficiently indicate that such 
records are correctly shown. 

In this phase of spiritual conditions I 
was greatly interested; but not fully un- 


IO 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


derstanding the methods or established 
regulations for relief, I could do but very 
little in ministering to the needs, all too 
apparent. I had not long to wait, how- 
** ever, for I soon perceived the presence of 
some to whom authority had been dele¬ 
gated, to minister to those cases then 
under my particular observation. 

I learned that there are schools, pre¬ 
sided over by ample corps of competent 
teachers. Into these schools grown men 
and women were taken where, beside chil¬ 
dren and even infants, they were taught 
the alphabet of spiritual facts. The proud 
and haughty upon earth — they who in 
self-sufficiency and arrogance had ruled 
over much — were here humble suppliants, 
eager to learn first lessons in spiritual 
laws, the manifestations of which every¬ 
where are love, harmony, and justice. A 
former ruler over more than ten cities was 
here, beside him, who in ignorance and 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


criminal contagion had never known or 
had never availed himself of opportunities 
to understand any of the beatitudes of 
life. 

I had then and there an opportunity to 
draw some simple deductions, which, for 
the reader’s benefit, I will state in three 
conclusions, namely: — 

1. That which you cannot take with 
you to the new life is not worth the strug¬ 
gle that men make to obtain. 

2. That which ennobles and unfolds 
spiritual beauty is worth many thousand¬ 
fold more than has ever been realized. 

3. The consciousness of and obedience 
to truth, as spiritually perceived, consti¬ 
tutes the principal good, preparing the 
only states of spiritual happiness here and 
hereafter. 

It was with mingled feelings of pity and 
gratitude that I now formed judgment, 
based upon actual facts, as I witnessed 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


them in this sphere of spiritual existence: 
pity that there should be those for whose 
instruction institutious of the sort referred 
to were necessary,— that the voice of the 
..conscious self had not been heeded in pre¬ 
vious states, where experiences now seemed 
to me to have been as schools specially 
designed for primary teaching and unfold- 
ment,— that, in humiliation and shame, 
expiation had become necessary for ad¬ 
vancement in the life of spirit. 

This was the dark side of the great ob¬ 
ject lessons which were shown to me. 

There was undoubtedly much value in 
the exhibition and its inductions. 

I also saw here some illuminated intelli¬ 
gences, whose rank and the purpose of 
their being present I did not understand; 
but in a short time was made aware that 
their presence was not a meaningless 
display,— that there was a reverse side of 
the picture,— that while for many the 


13 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


broad road so graphically described in 
scripture was essentially and correctly 
stated, there were also others whose 
attractions separated them from the mul¬ 
titude,— those attuned to finer vibrations 
— whose ears were open to spiritual har¬ 
monies,— to whom, up to that moment, 
prevailing conditions had been discordant. 
Unable to respond to the current of pass¬ 
ing events, they had remained merely 
interested spectators, observing the situa¬ 
tion,— yet wholly apart and unconcerned. 

Personally, I believed that similar gen¬ 
eral laws prevailed here as in the sphere 
of my former life, and that other laws 
would be revealed in due season. I felt 
that if, in the providence of the universe, 
the sparrow was protected, I should not 
be left in ignorance, without opportunities 
to learn the compass of Deity. 

Soon the offices of the illuminated in¬ 
telligences were made known. The 


14 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


needful ones received many evidences of 
love and wisdom, through vibrations and 
other methods of communication, ex¬ 
quisite harmonies, of which no one spoke 
or sought an explanation, for to each were 
conveyed impressions distinctly different 
from those received by others, yet all 
perfectly adapted to special needs, leading 
or seemingly attracting them in different 
directions. 

Let it not be inferred, when I speak of 
a spirit’s going in another direction, that 
actual necessity is laid upon any one to 
travel in the earth sense. It is true that 
some spirits can, by their own volition, 
pass immense distances, and, in so doing, 
practically annihilate space. Such travel¬ 
ling through stellar spaces of the universe 
are constant occurrences,— not, however, 
to escape the contagions of vice or lower 
companionship, for only those who have 
realized spiritual growth possess such 
power. 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


All unfoldments are, in their nature, 
esoteric and not limited by time or space. 
They are rather evolutions from lower to 
higher realizations of spiritual thought, and 
each sphere in the upward life, when fully 
attained, permits the spirit to enter into 
harmonial relations with those with whom 
it is in natural uniform correspondence. 

The power of spirit transference, or 
capacity to pass through space by will 
alone, will explain, upon planes of lower 
habitation, the presence of those whom 
many would naturally expect to find only 
after eons of progression, in higher and 
divinest states. 

At this time, it was signified to me that 
enlarged opportunities for spiritual study 
and observation were obtainable by con¬ 
formity to conditions required of all, and 
that I could enjoy such opportunities as 
my previous life had prepared me to re¬ 
ceive and comprehend. There were 

16 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


placed, subject to my selection, many 
courses of procedure in which lessons 
were to be learned, leading to fuller and 
clearer consciousness of the beautiful and 
perfect law of spirit. 

I now saw that it was not impossible to 
pass from planes to mountain heights, and 
that powers of vision and conceptions of 
sacred harmonies surrounding me were 
in exact relation to my spiritual percep¬ 
tion and capacity of receptivity, now being 
more perfectly unfolded through new ex¬ 
periences. 

I also saw that labors brought no 
fatigue. My eyes, heretofore unaccus¬ 
tomed to such brilliancy of light, acquired 
larger capacity to relate to all changes of 
conditions. 

Upon the journey, which I now entered, 
I passed through different altitudes, in all 
of which there seemed to be so many 
kaleidoscopic changes that at first I could 


17 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


not fully comprehend my surroundings. 
My robe changed its texture, and in each 
transformation I received new, poetical, 
and harmonial suggestions of eternal love 
and wisdom, each more entrancing than 
the other, in-breathed, absorbed, and as¬ 
similated through atmospheric and spirit¬ 
ual influences, leading me away from the 
low and grovelling conditions in which I 
had but recently seen so many, out into 
glorious light and liberty of the divine 
being, infinitely superior to the limitations 
of material states. 

From certain altitudes I beheld, at great 
distances, cities and villages, with their 
multitudes of busy and conglomerate 
populations,— many architectural curiosi¬ 
ties, crystal streams, flowing from moun¬ 
tain peaks, rearing their lofty heads into 
space, from which wave vibrations were 
received, each one signifying to me the 
spiritual and intellectual fact, that I should 


8 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


and could pass into closer relations with 
the great masters and adepts, upon whom 
wondrous powers over elements had been 
conferred. 

The vibrations, which I then began to 
study, conveyed interior meanings to all 
• who had learned to wisely translate them. 
By them an universal language could 
be understood throughout immeasurable 
space. 

I learned that all languages are but 
gross reflections of thought vibrations, 
having their origin in spirit, but that en¬ 
vironments and conditions have had much 
influence in their technical expression and 
evolution. I perceived that man living in 
lower spheres, under material influences, 
has not yet aquired ability to sense a 
higher and universal harmony, and that 
at most, after years of practical effort, he 
can gain mastery of but very few rates of 
vibrations, bringing him into correspond- 


19 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


ence with perhaps one, two or three lan¬ 
guages. 

What more beautiful and positive evi¬ 
dence of his origin and final destiny than 
the capacity and desire for control over a 
greater number of vibratory sounds, as 
illustrated in lingual acquirements ? 

Every word, every thought sent forth as 
evangels of good or as destructive vehicles 
of evil, find their counterparts in expres¬ 
sion. Emanating under inspirations of 
love and harmony, they reach the heights, 
and add to the sum of heavenly effluences, 
preparing new conditions and better inspi¬ 
rations for those who have overcome, sub¬ 
stituting, in the heart, light for darkness 
and so unfolding divinity. 

And while I reflected upon what had 
been revealed by the new experiences, it 
seemed to me that men upon earth should, 
through revelations of spiritual light, be 
able to unfold similar and allied states of 


20 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


being,— that an universal religion, devel¬ 
oped through sensitiveness to etheric 
vibrations and a realization of the divine 
in consciousness, would soon enable the 
world to evolve spheres of more perfect 
harmony, and that thereby humanity could 
hold sweeter and closer relations in all 
states of existence. 

It was but a short time, however, before 
I was awakened from that state of medita¬ 
tion and made to feel that for me, at least, 
in the path I had selected to follow, there 
were great labors, services to render, for 
the due performance of which in the court 
of conscience, I should be required to 
answer. 

I learned that the ability to translate 
facts into esoteric meanings had not been 
conferred for useless purposes. That in 
the condition of spirit life there existed 
the law of service and obedience, to both 
of which I owed special obligations which, 


21 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


even had I so desired, could not have been 
evaded or transferred to others. 

I now understood the objective purpose 
of my visit to those strange and, to me, 
new spheres. 

Floating in the atmospheres, I perceived 
individualized thoughts, desires, prayers 
for spiritual assistance, relief from suffer¬ 
ing, and thousands of seeming misfortunes. 
I was taught to discern through aural 
colorings the peculiarities of each separate 
entity, with which my greater sensitive¬ 
ness now brought me into close relation. 
I clearly perceived my mission ; the duties 
pertaining to my chosen occupation were 
clearly revealed. I had, in fact, become a 
laborer in spiritual realms of the Infinite, 
a messenger of hope and light. 

Upon earth I had striven, largely 
through book and pen, to instruct and 
lead others; now I recognized the neces¬ 
sity and desirability of another form of 


22 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


service,— that in love and sacrifice for 
others one only could attain the absolute 
good. 

While in earthly states one may at 
times feel encouraged in all humanitarian 
efforts, there are also periods of mental 
and spiritual depression arising from 
causes needless to refer to now. 

Not so is it, however, in the life of 
spirit. 

For wise and, as I now understood, 
beneficent reasons, time had been com¬ 
pletely eliminated from calculations. Ac¬ 
complished purposes fix and mark the 
boundaries and limitations of individual 
expressions. Hope, born of former suc¬ 
cesses and harbinger of yet greater victo¬ 
ries, sustains and encourages the spirit in 
all labors of love, thus redeeming the 
promises of old. 

I could here sit in the councils of the 
great and wise, learn new things, and re¬ 
ceive inspirations of all the ages. 


23 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Slowly, through evolutions of conscious 
harmony, the beatitudes of the heavenly 
states of existence inspired to renewed 
efforts, so that instead of sharing only, I 
should become, through mastery of con¬ 
ditions, the creator and dispenser of celes¬ 
tial manna. 

Who were these great and noble ones ? 

They had come up out of great tribula¬ 
tions ; had wrought in the heat of day, 
borne heavy burdens, and now rejoiced, 
not in complete victory, for they were yet 
workers in the vineyard, doing and hop¬ 
ing much, and through results of noble 
personal experiences, were encouraging 
others to continue, and resign not farther 
efforts for the attainment of those spirit¬ 
ual gifts which always enable the pos¬ 
sessing ones to do much for humanity, 
and the unfoldment of the divine self. 

I have spoken of the visible thought, 
forms, and aural colorings of their sur- 


24 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


roundings. Millions upon millions of 
such manifestations, each a symbol of the 
aspiration of the human heart,— not 
manifest to us, sometimes hardly visible 
as separate entities,— yet easily perceived 
by those in correspondence,— exist in the 
pure ethers. 

A spirit soon learns how to group and 
separate the forms created through vari¬ 
ous thought vibrations, to analyze and 
estimate their importance, and to reject, 
as worthless, even harmful, petitions, quan¬ 
tities of them constantly visible, literal 
answers to which would be either im¬ 
possible, or, if permitted, would prove a 
worse visitation than the penalties which 
the petitioner may have been expiating, 
and thus seeking to escape. 

It is a truth, very apparent in spirit 
conditions, that mortals (here I refer to 
immortals in relations to the mortal body) 
have but very imperfect conceptions of 
their own greater needs. 


25 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


We hope, however, as better means 
of intercommunication are established 
through gifted and delicate persons, to 
be able more fully to explain the inter¬ 
relations between the two spheres of 
activities, and the laws governing each. 
To this end, new and specially prepared in 
struments are being constantly used by the 
spirit world, and we feel that our labors, 
through them, will result in better con¬ 
ceptions of truth. 

We never weary in our efforts, for we 
well know that as we succeed in lifting 
the standard of moral and ideal life, so 
also shall we create more harmonious 
conditions, and ample answer back, to all 
our sacrifices and struggles. 

There is a general, and if I may use 
the word, an average or universal moral 
atmosphere or expression, separate and 
distinct from individualized personality. 
To that general or modern civilization, 


26 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


in its relations to moral states, we turn, 
for it represents to us the realized sum 
total of human wisdom, love, harmony. 

In our communications, we are obliged 
to overcome general as well as special 
conditions, in order to assist individual 
cases. 

Therefore, you will perceive that all obli¬ 
gations of citizenship are important, main¬ 
taining or lowering the average, according 
to the thought and the action. 

In the sphere or state to which I have 
alluded, I saw many intelligences who, like 
myself, for the time being, had formed no 
clear conception of the ultimate and per¬ 
fect condition. They, at least, seemed to 
be satisfied with their present beautiful 
surroundings; for myself, I could not say 
so much. 

The prevailing conditions, and accept¬ 
ance thereof as entirely satisfactory by 
these intelligences, caused me no little 
anxiety and considerable speculation. 


27 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Here were students from all schools of 
philosophy, astronomers, scientists, and 
vast numbers from other intellectual con¬ 
ditions of earth. Some of them had been 
here centuries, reckoned in terms of years, 
and, from all I could see or learn, they 
were perfectly content, not seeking or ex¬ 
pecting change. They regarded not the 
principle of natural attraction; and, practi¬ 
cally rejecting the teachings of evolution, 
condemned them as quite impossible, and 
unworthy investigation of the thoughtful 
and the wise. 

Why and how could such a condition 
or state of mind continue so long? Why 
had not a greater light and a higher wis¬ 
dom been revealed to those satisfied ones ? 

To answer such natural inquiry, it will 
be necessary to review, in a few words, 
some earth history of one or two of my 
personal acquaintances whom I found 
there. 


28 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


In the earth they were called “scien¬ 
tists ”; and, as sciences were then known, 
they were almost wholly occupied in the 
discovery of the laws of physics or chem¬ 
istry, for instance,— learning much and 
teaching much concerning the hidden facts 
in nature. Theirs were exoteric approaches 
toward The Light; but, unfortunately, 
their own magnetic, positive and objective 
attitudes constantly obscured and pre¬ 
vented them from perceiving that which 
might have led them out of material into 
clear and pure spiritual conceptions. De¬ 
sires for discoveries of facts were not 
wanting; methods only failed. They built 
their houses upon the plains and in the 
valleys. 

Those pure and earnest truth seekers, 
upon wholly material lines, failed to dis¬ 
cover the Divine Ego,— the pure gem, 
constantly emitting its bright, steady, flaw¬ 
less rays of absolute white light. They 


29 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


were not sinners above others. They per¬ 
formed good and necessary work. 

Is it not assigned to man to find out 
God? 

Where can He be found except as mani¬ 
fested in His laws ? 

They simply misconstrued the evidence 
of their own discoveries, and sought to 
relegate spirit and exalt matter, substi¬ 
tuting shadow for substance. Some of 
them are yet so engaged, and thus far the 
higher expressions in matter only have 
been revealed to them. Are they not 
living examples of the principle of corre¬ 
spondence ? They will eventually apply 
their great learning and keen powers of 
penetration and analysis to the study of 
spiritual laws, and naturally, slowly, pos¬ 
sibly imperceptibly to themselves, will 
grow to higher states, surpassing present 
limitations, practically illustrating the evo¬ 
lution of the lower consciousness into the 
image of the higher. 


30 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Instead of endeavoring to find corre¬ 
spondences existing between spirit and 
matter, as conditioned through the mani¬ 
festations of spiritual forces in all spheres 
or lives, thereby discovering true indices of 
progress and possibilities of future unfold- 
ments, they sought to exalt outward sub¬ 
stances only,— the vehicle of the real,— 
following will-o’-the-wisps, evading the 
main issues of life, the positive purpose 
of existence, controverting principle, sub¬ 
stituting nothing, and are now substantial 
confirmations of what I long ago per¬ 
ceived,— that sometimes what the world 
esteems an education, instead of becom¬ 
ing the pinions upon which the spirit 
may mount to infinitely exalted heights, 
it often proves to be. manacles and 
weights, enslaving the soul until every 
darkened cell of the mind has been per¬ 
meated by celestial light. 

As in physical and lower states of 
31 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


mental action, so in higher conditions of 
moral and intellectual life, the fixed, eter¬ 
nal law of conscience and personal re¬ 
sponsibility— without atonement or eva¬ 
sion through any one or by any means — 
holds each and every child of the uni¬ 
verse to its unalterable purpose. Every 
true path is straight; wanderers there¬ 
from must retrace their steps. The dim 
light of a dark lantern often leads astray, 
but the glorious light of the eternal sun 
brightens and simplifies every course. 

It now seemed that I had gained all 
desirable benefits, all obtainable light 
and experience from surrounding condi¬ 
tions, and that my first effort should be 
made in behalf of others, in special ac¬ 
tivities which I had elected. 

Like all neophytes, beholding a world, 
largely in the depths of moral darkness, 
my zeal knew no bounds. It appeared 
at first as though single handed I could 


3 2 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


lift the whole inert mass, permitting light 
to penetrate every nook and corner, turn¬ 
ing millions from darkness to better and 
clearer conceptions of truth. 

-I had not learned much concerning the 
relation of objective and subjective forces 
of the universe, and that one force was 
the antithesis of the other, and so ex¬ 
pressed in universal law for wise, benefi¬ 
cent, specific purposes,— that upon the 
subjective side of life there were limita¬ 
tions to spiritual powers and control,— that 
zeal without wisdom often proved profit¬ 
less indiscretion,— in fact, that I must 
learn by hard and bitter experience how 
to apply my newly acquired powers, in 
order that the last state of man should 
not be worse than the first. 

In different conditions of spirit life, 
some are taught, some led in chosen occu¬ 
pations, working out their own salvation, 
redemption, progression, becoming their 


33 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


own church redeemer, teacher, for it is 
the law that he that giveth is, in fact, he 
that receiveth; he that doeth much suf- 
fereth naught; the world puts its richest 
gifts at his command, and heaven itself 
adopts him. 

Perceiving and understanding the law, 
is not the call to every one to accept it ? 
Does light shine into darkness to increase 
that darkness ? 

There are, in the spirit world, opportuni¬ 
ties for reflection, for philosophical deduc¬ 
tions, for self-examination, and for the appli¬ 
cation of spiritual teachings; also a certain 
liberty of action,— a full measure of judg¬ 
ment, a review of evidential probabilities 
from what has preceded, pictures of pos¬ 
sible attainments, but each one marks his 
own trail and methods of procedure. His¬ 
tory repeats not. Like causes produce 
the same results, but expressions of causes 
come to each in perceiving aural colors, 


34 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


and upon different planes,— to the neo¬ 
phyte, confusion, to the illuminated, abso¬ 
lute order and unity. The measure of 
comprehension is evidence of celestial il¬ 
lumination. The light is all about, per¬ 
meating infinitude. It may be night 
to some, noon-day brightness to others. 
Darkness is heavy and holds to earth. 
Light has a double meaning. Its chil¬ 
dren can explore the Pleiades and lay 
their trophies at the feet of aspiring stu¬ 
dents. 

Having now entered upon the new 
occupations of spirit, if I may so term it, 
I became intensely interested and anxious 
about results, so much so that I frequently 
failed in final accomplishments. I could 
not come into rapport with organisms 
that I desired to influence, nor could I 
control other conditions to my liking. 
“ The Prince of the Power of the Air,” of 
which I received intimations, and had pre- 


35 



A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


viously read — a power intangible and be¬ 
yond vision, at least of those in my state, 
yet veritable and perhaps the stronger 
force of the universe— holds in check the 
enthusiasm and misguided zeal of those 
under the dominating influence of the 
heart, uncontrolled by wisdom. Here, as 
upon the mortal plane of spiritual mani¬ 
festation, there must needs be long prep¬ 
arations before the regal crown of au¬ 
thority sits upon the brow of experience. 
Individuals and personalities count for 
nothing. What matters a tiny spark 
when the world is afire? Was I not once 
a citizen of the small and insignificant 
planet called earth? Are there not in¬ 
numerable billions of souls thronging the 
courts of infinite space, who have not yet 
even learned if there be such a home, pro¬ 
lific of life and immortal hopes ? Are my 
little efforts for the good of a few old 
acquaintances, neighbors, and citizens im- 


36 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


portant factors ? How much and how 
long shall the spirit hope and labor? 
Come down from Parnassus and build a 
simple and plain hut out of the woof and 
warp of common things. You must learn 
the use of practical tools and instruments 
in constructing your new home. Hereto¬ 
fore, in fancy, you have been living with 
the gods. Now you must bear heavy 
burdens along dusty roads and earn the 
mendicant’s scanty meal,— that humility, 
patience, obedience, and the law of sacri¬ 
fice for others shall bear fruit, opening the 
doors to more beautiful visions, and lead¬ 
ing into serener atmospheres, where more 
of love and wisdom, more of God shall be 
revealed through your own interior cor¬ 
respondences with new and better things. 
You must learn the power of concentra¬ 
tion, that at your command the spiritual 
forces of the universe shall work for 
practical results. Instead of governing a 


37 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


world, as in your enthusiasm seemed pos¬ 
sible, learn the real value of a single soul, 
and start that aright in fulfilment of ulti¬ 
mate destiny. So, anticipating time, sup¬ 
plementing the experience of your brother 
with the larger experience of your own, 
he may also receive some light, and upon 
it build mighty aspirations and hopes, the 
fruition of which shall satisfy his longing 
spirit. 

So, seeking to incorporate the phi¬ 
losophy of spirit into tangible, veritable 
issues, one learns and unlearns the earth 
lessons of all the ages. Sometimes he re¬ 
traces the paths so laboriously marked and 
travelled in the dark night of experience, 
hope almost gone, finally reaching the 
sunlit course, now so straight, plain, that 
the simplest child of nature need not err 
therein. 

Wherefore and for what are all these 
things in the loom of nature? Not by 


38 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


chance, nor by inert, sluggish inactivity, 
does the spirit come to harmony with the 
Great Oversoul. Disorder and apparent 
discord are all your own, fortunately finite, 
perishable. From the heights you will 
view your present surroundings,— the 
picture will be beautiful, harmonious in 
every detail,— truth constituting the per¬ 
spective, all its colorings, love. 

So, with intimations of a successful out¬ 
come, inspired and to be made a fact 
through knowledge of natural law, I now 
go forth into larger missionary fields of 
the world. When a mortal, sensitive to 
such vibrations as I command can be 
found, then to express through that one 
in written hieroglyphics some unknown 
facts of life, a knowledge of which shall 
encourage weary ones to renewed efforts, 
loftier aspirations, and better hopes. 

So, from the genesis of aspiration, may 
ultimately evolve great souls, and rejected 


39 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


stones become luminous, adorning the 
inner chancel of consciousness. 

The heart of man, always desiring 
something better while upon the plane of 
mortal habitation, never ceases its higher, 
nobler aspirations for larger liberty and 
better satisfactions. 

As it aspires there, so here. Does it 
love in mortal states ? — far more truly 
and intensely here. 

We but enter new schools, where at¬ 
mospheres are clearer, vibrations quicker, 
love more intense, playing upon organ¬ 
isms keenly sensitive to delicate forces of 
spirit, passing through refined and subtle 
ethers over spaces inconceivably vast, 
each selecting its mate, prepared for it 
before history’s remotest ancestor had 
learned to utter his first guttural sounds, 
harbingers of ultimate evangelization of 
the world. 

Thus prepared, the spirit, clothed in a 


40 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


garb neither subject to heat, cold, nor 
disease, knowing no darkness, impelled at 
first by loving remembrances, after that 
by a greater love,— beholding the neces¬ 
sities of all, possessing capacities coexten¬ 
sive with the human needs, requiring only 
evolution in methods of applied usefulness, 
goes forth upon its missions of love. 
Thus every success of spirit, increasing 
hope in the heart of mortality, also en¬ 
larges the horizon of spiritual perceptions. 

What may await its first efforts, I hope 
more fully to explain in other chapters. 


41 


CHAPTER II. 

Having thus far, and in the manner de¬ 
scribed in the previous chapter, prepared 
myself for the exercise of delicate and 
useful functions of spirit, why should I 
not make the attempt at influencing the 
spirit in mortal form? Should I not go 
to those whose disposition, habits of 
thought, and predilections were under¬ 
stood ? This is what natural inclination 
would dictate, and, in fact, what usually 
occurs, though there are cosmic souls who 
seem equally at home anywhere. Not so, 
however, in the special case under con¬ 
sideration. I felt that some vibrations, 
charged with electrical and magnetic 
force, sent forth through impulsions of 
love, even if bearing evidence to the re- 


42 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


cipient, of being the frail efforts of a 
neophyte, might bear some fruit under 
friendly conditions,— more certainly, in¬ 
deed, than if subjected to the cold, austere 
analysis of those who, possessed of preju¬ 
dices, forestalled any suitable conditions 
for spiritual influx. 

I leave the reader to infer, after this 
statement, where I directed my first efforts. 
It is not my purpose to deal in personali¬ 
ties or to make names public, some of 
them well known, and a few yet among 
you; some, however, have passed to this 
side of life. Suffice it to say that many 
investigations and lectures have from that 
time been the result of my mission, some 
of them by professors who have discovered 
great things and announced so much as 
has seemed desirable for present good. 

The work has only commenced, but I 
am gratified with achievements already 
made and hope to aid, by my suggestion 


43 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


and inspiration, in yet more important dis¬ 
coveries and revelations which will be for 
the benefit of coming ages. 

To some readers, time may seem of 
great importance, that the work lags, and 
that the clouds of ignorance, prejudice and 
superstition gather with increasing force, 
and so present insurmountable walls, 
moats, defences. 

Do not fear. Is it not recorded that a 
pebble slung from the right arm of youth 
slew the chosen giant of the enemy ? So 
shall it ever be. 

When it became evident that one gifted 
son of earth had perceived the deeper 
meanings of life (which I helped him to 
realize), and had begun to seek and know 
more of truth, I felt that I had not served 
without purpose and that the importance 
of rejected facts in his life which I had 
been seeking to impress upon him had 
indeed in him become the keystone in the 


44 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


temple, the foundation of which was at 
last laid deep in his soul, secure and safe 
from attacks of ignorance and bigotry. 

In the hierarchy of spirit, that court of 
review, if I may be permitted so to call it, 
in order to convey to human intelligence 
some idea of spiritual order and account¬ 
ability, the deeds and actual achievements 
of every human soul are properly weighed 
and estimated. Here, divested of all per¬ 
sonal considerations, without prejudice, 
without favor or praise, all that has been 
achieved or is worthy of consideration re¬ 
ceives its reward; but no deed or series of 
successful labors does in any manner ab¬ 
solve the soul from further efforts. The 
spirit thereby is only strengthened and 
encouraged to go forth, having received 
recognition of its usefulness and capacity 
for possible higher, better, nobler achieve¬ 
ments. Revelations of future possibilities 
come to the willing aspirant upon planes 


45 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


of present habitation, and it is for each 
to embrace and to make effective the 
immediate work lying before him. He 
must, and will soon, learn that order is 
indeed one of heaven’s first laws, and that 
delegated duties bear strict relation to 
spiritual hopes, desires and capacities. 
One service in no way relieves from re¬ 
sponsibility ; other services command, 
which open more beautiful and diviner 
perspectives of life, with serious, deep im¬ 
port to the aspiring, yearning spirit; for 
as powers are unfolded, corresponding and 
relative responsibilities follow, and thus 
greater hopes, expectations and desires 
constantly press for satisfaction. 

Is not the spirit on its way toward per¬ 
fection ? Shall it not find correspond¬ 
ences in subtler manifestation and deeper 
realization ? Truth is round, not angular, 
reflecting beauty and radiations from all 
points of its circumference, every view 


46 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


evolving new realizations of being, new 
glories, new attributes, inciting aspirations 
for more truth,— the sum of all which, in 
itself, being the very essence of Divinity. 

.While my spirit was thus reflecting 
upon its own inherent powers and possi¬ 
bilities, judgment was pronounced, through 
the involution, absorption, harmony, 
created by the very deeds which I un¬ 
wisely supposed would be the subject-mat¬ 
ter of special consideration of those in 
superior states of unfoldment. 

I learned by this first practical proof, 
which was so impressed as to become 
indelible, that I should henceforth live in 
atmospheres of my own creation,— that 
achievements of spirit created states of 
being, corresponding precisely with the 
importance of duties performed ; that my 
supposed judges, constituting the hierar- 
chal court, were but vice-gerents, executing 
the law’s decrees; and that harmonial 


47 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


relations to law, through obedience and 
worthy deeds, could be outworked, leading 
one into aural surroundings where he 
could understand methods of reward and 
experience divine satisfactions. 

This was my first effort. I perceived 
its lesson, its recompense in consciousness. 
I had learned a principle, a law, and had 
practically come to a knowledge of its 
personal application. One step forward! 
Revelations were now sensed as the an¬ 
swer of service, a many-fold equivalent, a 
perpetual incentive, divorced from all self¬ 
ish desires for special benefits, leading to 
the heights. 

But, while I could thus for the moment 
reflect and look into an imaginative future, 
hoping and expecting much, I was re¬ 
minded that no victory which came un¬ 
sought, without struggle and confident 
trust, was ever inscribed upon any banner, 
—that I was now entering the corridors of 


48 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


celestial experiences, faintly catching the 
first glimmerings of light, and was not 
able to behold the full brightness of the 
heavenly galaxy reserved for those who 
had labored and achieved. 

All these gentle reminders, coming 
from hearts of love and wisdom, soon led 
me to more fully consider the results of 
my efforts, and to institute comparisons 
between my own and their state of illu¬ 
mination, and the reasons therefor. 

Having thus discovered that there was 
no quick or immediate means by which 
spirit could pass from lower to highest 
conditions of conscious power, that others 
— exercising control over elements, ex¬ 
ecuting laws, and possessing many gifts 
at present not at my command — had 
been denizens of earth, living in remote 
periods, surrounded by no special advan¬ 
tages which had not been conferred upon 
myself, then came unto my own spirit a 


49 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


conviction, a settled determination, that 
I also must begin in renewed energy of 
purpose to unfold individual, inherent, 
dormant capacities of spirit, and that to 
the end of perfecting those resolutions, 
every opportunity for diviner unfoldment 
should be utilized. 

Up to that moment I had principally 
relied upon myself, aided only by such 
intelligent assistance as had been either 
voluntarily given or attracted to me under 
laws not fully understood. I had not 
escaped the karma of earth. I still relied 
upon the sufficiency of those experiences 
and intuitions developed in that form of 
being. It may be a fact that even in 
those conditions I had partially conceived 
the importance of spiritual aid, had, ac¬ 
cording to the light of lower vibrations, 
sought harmony, and not without answers 
that then appeared to satisfy the longings 
of my heart. 


50 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Here, however, I was confronted by 
new aspects of the eternal law, operating 
in states to which I had but recently at¬ 
tained, to the full import of which I was 
a -seeming stranger. I remembered that 
formerly, when in doubt, I sought the 
construction of law from constituted au¬ 
thorities. Why should I not apply to the 
wise for information ? Could I not thus 
supplement my limited experiences? 

Understanding some of the differences 
existing between the two states,— that 
upon earth enacted law is prohibitive, all 
things being legally permissible, not re¬ 
stricted or wholly denied, while spiritual 
laws are positive, commanding, exacting 
strictest obedience in every detail, and to 
him that through faithful compliance over¬ 
comes, conferring blessings beyond con¬ 
ception,— why should I not sit at the feet 
of wisdom, and learn from the vice-gerents 
of the Great Oversoul, whose radiations 


51 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


permeate every part of an infinite uni¬ 
verse, in whose effluences these, my de¬ 
sired teachers, had become partakers of 
that whereof I had not attained ? 

Such were resultants of perceived limi¬ 
tations,— leadings of spirit upward, seek¬ 
ing harmonial relations with those whose 
light was sufficient unto my present needs. 

“ I will arise and go unto my Father’s 
house.” If my robe of deeds will not 
admit to the guest table, I will be as. an 
hired servant. 

Some time, I know not when, it may be 
that I shall be accounted worthy of a 
higher place — but there, at least, I may 
learn, if not directly, then through others, 
some beautiful, instructive lessons, which 
shall lead me out of my present encom¬ 
passed, impeded, self-imposed restrictions, 
into acknowledged equality with those 
from whom now, in humility, I must seek 
instructions, that I may attain spiritual 


52 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


preferments, powers, and larger possibili¬ 
ties of service. 

Why should I not, through the infinite 
ethers of space, send forth electrical forces 
charged with wondrous psychic powers, 
sufficient to influence the most obdurate ? 
Such aspirations mark the genesis of new 
unfoldments. Here the lower had un¬ 
consciously been paying homage to the 
higher self. 

Unawares, I had been sitting at the 
feet of a Gamaliel and seizing upon so 
much wisdom, beauty, truth, as corre¬ 
sponding unfoldments permitted me to 
receive, although for the time I did not 
understand Divine methods of teaching. 
Nor did I see the path clearly marked 
leading to victory. 

As so many upon your plane, so here, 
multitudes whom no man can number, 
have not learned that the chief battle, and 
the principal foe to be fought and over- 


53 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


come is within, or rather outward environ¬ 
ments and the karmas created thereby, 
prevent divine expression from within in 
perfect relations to truth. 

The ministry of ignorance often serves 
for the unbuilding of worlds, holding 
its victims to the conditions of material 
labors, thereby creating surroundings mak¬ 
ing possible a physical life necessary for 
great teachers, who have from time to time 
blessed mankind by their presence. 

Shall I not come into companionship 
with my own ? From of old, was I not 
one with them ? 

Has a few short years’ absence upon 
earth, for special expiatory purposes, for¬ 
ever excluded me from those I loved ? 

I will appeal to the God within. Before 
His throne, established in my own con¬ 
sciousness, I will plead the cause with all 
the eloquence, pathos and love that I can 
command, and ask that the path of duty 


54 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


be made plain, and that, emerging from 
darkness to light, wisdom shall teach and 
lead. By virtue of my divine inheritance 
and possessions, I shall receive that which 
1 ask. I will not grovel in the dust. I 
will walk, demanding that which I know 
the Infinite never denies,— that I should 
no longer be subjected to powers whose 
authority I oppose and contradict, whose 
temporary reign, in my night of humilia¬ 
tion and darkness, I now spurn and reject. 

While thus standing, disputing the 
authority of an imaginary foe, an unreal 
entity, I beheld, at first in the dim distance, 
a bright, beautiful star, shining in all the 
lustre of perfect brilliancy and splendor. 
It seemed to be far away, infinitely distant, 
but I could perceive its atmosphere. The 
vibrations from it were charged with divine 
elixirs: peace, harmony, love and trium¬ 
phant joy were all blended in its aural 
colorings. There came to my spirit inde- 


55 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


scribable and heavenly satisfactions, bid¬ 
ding, urging me to leave behind the heavy 
burdens of sin, and evermore to keep in 
view its perfect light, which would never 
disappoint nor desert; and that, in the up¬ 
ward journey, amid all the trials and con¬ 
flicts, struggles, apparent defeats and posi¬ 
tive victories, never to lose sight of or 
forget, even if temporarily obscured, the 
permanent existence of that which had 
been revealed unto me for guidance and 
inspiration. 

Through an esoteric unfoldment, pre¬ 
paring one for deeper progress in 
the life of spirit, I had, by this object 
lesson, been consciously brought into 
close relations, new to me, possibly, 
and in so far as my experiences ex¬ 
tended, peculiarly personal. The imme¬ 
diate lessons, or teachings, had been to 
direct my notice to a distant, bright and 
uplifted object, upon which I had been told 


56 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


to fix my attention, keep it ever in view 
and, if under trying circumstances I should 
be tempted to depart from the course 
marked, never to forget its existence. 
There was the beacon, signifying to my 
spirit, hope, perpetual, watchful care, by its 
constant presence. An object, fixed in the 
distance, capable of emitting rays of special 
brightness, peculiarly attractive, then 
seemed to me the highest reward in spir¬ 
itual attainments. I had not learned that 
this light was subject to many apparent 
changes in appearances. It had not been 
revealed that its aural colorings would 
quickly respond to my own thoughts, 
aspirations, hopes and deeds. It seemed 
afar off, but something which the spirit 
would long to reach, and under the influ¬ 
ence of which one could enjoy the sun¬ 
shine of an eternal life of bliss. 

Poor, inexperienced, unsatisfied child, 
in a universe of spiritual forces, conditions, 


57 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


hopes, the laws of which you know not, 
and the means, methods of study, objects 
of attainment unrevealed, unlearned. 

How could I know the mystery of mys¬ 
teries ? I will take my journey to that 
distant orb, explore its wonders, and make 
my abode there,— possibly in some quiet 
and selected nook or dell, a new, permanent 
home, better furnished and equipped for 
the service of spirit. It may be there, in 
sweet companionships and highest spirit¬ 
ual communions among those who have 
overcome all things, through love, I will 
learn how by leaps and bounds to reach 
the heights and see my God and His Christ 
face to face. Therein the hopes and long¬ 
ings of my spirit had until now been 
denied. None of my sweet, loving, and 
wise friends had ever beheld the face of 
the Father. Wherein they had failed, I 
must succeed. Had I not been so taught? 
Is it not true ? Some vibrations of spirit 
58 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


seem to answer back, yes and no. I could 
not divine the meaning of those distinct 
and positive impressions. Yes, there is a 
Father and His Christ. Of this fact you 
have been taught aright. Did not my 
friend, the poet, say, “ I hope to see my 
Pilot face to face ” ? Well, I know poets 
sometimes write with considerable beauty. 
Do they always express the real, absolute 
essence of facts ? What does he think 
upon this great subject now ? He must 
have been right, for indeed he was in¬ 
spired. 

While thus reflecting upon some of the 
conditions of life in spirit, I was suddenly 
awakened to another more material, but 
necessary fact. In the outset of my spirit¬ 
ual awakening, had I not selected a voca¬ 
tion? Had I not chosen to become a 
messenger of light and truth ? Was not 
my theatre of labors to be upon earth and 
among those whom I had but recently 
known ? 


59 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Instead of seeking the face of my Pilot, 
whom those many centuries in advance 
of myself had never beheld, why not labor 
faithfully in my chosen pursuit ? Could 
I not in this manner fix foundations 
upon which to erect a better superstruct¬ 
ure? Could one vibrating upon planes 
of my present habitation behold face to 
face the supernal light of Deity ? Go 
back to earth, labor according to the light 
of your knowledge, seek greater wisdom, 
and learn more perfectly how to fulfil 
present duties. Possibly there, in the 
due performance of assumed obligations, 
you may some day behold reflections of 
the Father and learn more about the 
spirit of the Christ. 

And while I was, in this manner, shown 
the path of duty, the beacon light seemed 
nearer, shining with special brilliancy. 
Is there a relation between it and His 
Christ? Time and experience will surely 


60 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


reveal the truth. If I may not now go 
to that distant orb, will not the light come 
to me? It had already come as near 
as my conditional existence, under the 
law, the operation of which I did not 
understand, would for the time permit. 

I think I have already referred to the 
law of attraction or the assimilation of 
similars. That law is very far-reaching 
in its operations,— through it one may 
become allied in thought, and finally in 
companionships with the great, illumi¬ 
nated ones, possessing powers beyond 
mortal conceptions, and controlling ele¬ 
mental forces in infinite space. 

In states of ignorance, rejecting oppor¬ 
tunities, and seeking only conditions, the 
antithesis of truth and harmony, one also 
experiences the binding chains of sin, in 
its myriad hideous forms of expression, 
and thus is held for ages,— until expiation 
and restitution are made for all things. 

61 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


The eternality of law and its absolute con¬ 
trol in all affairs of earth and heaven, fixes 
the present state of every child in the 
universe. He can, however, develop suf¬ 
ficient powers to change his spiritual re¬ 
lations to the law, if he so wills. 

What, then, should be the chief duty 
and purpose in life ? My reply is, 
“ Study spiritual laws all emanating from 
Infinity” and learn their operations and 
results; seek to fulfil those conditions 
through which harmony may evolve in all 
relations where and howsoever the spirit 
may be outworking its final destiny. 

Karma is but a term, rather indefinitely 
defining man’s relation to law, its outward 
definitions and expressions. It is, how¬ 
ever, portrayed by means of aural col¬ 
orings, which enable those in psychic 
correspondence and under clairvoyance 
to perceive one’s present state of spirit¬ 
ual progress. It is, therefore, useful to 


62 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


study its conditions and varied manifesta¬ 
tions. 

Those who have attained powers suffi¬ 
cient thus to perceive and translate char¬ 
acter are particularly fortunate, and can 
enter careers of special usefulness. 

In my labors, now again taken up, I 
began to perceive my great needs and 
limited powers,— that I ought more thor¬ 
oughly to perfect my own capacity of 
sight, and perceptions of others through 
laws of vibration. 

Up to the present time I had given the 
study of laws, or their manifestations, only 
a general and casual consideration, upon 
similar lines as those pursued by most 
persons in both conditions of being. 
Now, however, I saw and felt, from prac¬ 
tical experience, the special necessity of 
greater knowledge and a more complete 
philosophical understanding of the origin 
(if that was attainable), reason for and 


63 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


practical operation of all laws within the 
scope of my spiritual possibilities. 

I had not then learned that all revela¬ 
tions of law come in correspondence with 
the necessities and unfoldments of spirit, 
under such conditions and at special 
periods of greatest needs,— that urgent 
requirements of spirit bring one into cor¬ 
respondence with vibrations, through har- 
monial relations with which every longing 
of the unsatisfied soul could be completely 
satisfied. 

There came to me convictions of con¬ 
science ; why had I not at the outset 
begun the study of spiritual laws under 
competent teachers? I had at first, in 
blind confidence, elected to become a 
messenger of light and truth. Had not 
the fate of blind leaders of the blind long 
since been declared? Could I hope to 
escape the penalties of my own folly, in 
electing to teach without due preparation ? 


64 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Here at the very threshold of life under 
new conditions, a self-appointed leader 
and teacher of others had been confronted 
by conditions in regard to which his prac¬ 
tical knowledge was indeed very limited. 

Only one law,— how many others in the 
great laboratory of time and space had 
been evolved from Infinite Conscious¬ 
ness ? Did I understand them all ? Did 
I even know the origin or practical work¬ 
ings of even a single one of them ? Stu¬ 
pendous ignorance! Go back to that 
primary school and take your place among 
those that knowing not, aspired not, and 
when thou hast received thy sight, then 
mayest thou walk alone, and in humility 
learn from willing teachers. 

Now had I begun to realize the utter 
inadequacy of my preparations and partly 
to understand those required for success¬ 
ful labors in my chosen field. 

I perceived that all spiritual powers 
65 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


bore certain relations to, and were ex¬ 
pressed in personality, as upon earth, and 
that education, supplementing moral cau¬ 
sality, was needful to success in all efforts. 

I found that there were many whom I 
might desire to instruct, upon whom reason 
and other highest powers of spiritual 
knowledge must be brought to bear, if 
the mission I had at heart would prosper, 
enlarging the sphere of human knowl¬ 
edge, encompassing the world, the strong 
desire and chief hope of spirit. 

The first ideals — born of enthusiasm, 
and recently acquired powers, of which I 
had not learned the limitations, inspiring 
me with the desire to accomplish all 
things, to forward to quick success the 
conversions of my old acquaintances, and 
enlisting their services, reach the State, na¬ 
tion, and finally evangelizing the world — 
began to give way. Other views suc¬ 
ceeded, born of experience, in which high 


66 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


hopes and aspirations were doomed to 
determined resistance, if not absolute de¬ 
feat. I perceived the causes of partial 
failures, for notwithstanding some had 
admitted bases and facts, others had 
wholly ignored them, and were actively 
denying the existence of a spiritual world, 
or any conditions whatsoever, of life, after 
physical death. 

Herein I perceived a near correspond¬ 
ence between the two states of existence,— 
that in both, reason and arguments de¬ 
signed for conviction were used with 
similar liberties, and that neither state 
was free from errors. 

There were in the life of spirit, under 
conditions in which I found myself, 
masses, innumerable hosts, more or less 
subject to the control of those who had 
achieved only a limited command over 
elements, and, I regret to say, whose con¬ 
clusions were usually void of logic and 


67 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


reason, and frequently not worthy of re¬ 
spect, even. 

I perceived that not only upon earth 
but in spirit, the fields of labor were be¬ 
yond conceptions of boundary, and the 
harvest indeed infinite, laborers compara¬ 
tively few, and I, a would-be-worker, a 
neophyte, unprepared, hardly knowing 
the instruments and methods, and wholly 
ignorant of their use. What would I do ? 
Where begin ? To whom apply ? I will 
interrogate the star when its bright light 
once more shines unto my spirit. Where 
is it now ? Was I not warned never to 
forget its presence? It had not of late 
been visible. It seemed eons of centuries 
since its light became dimmer; and in the 
interim I had been in the densest dark¬ 
ness, groping, wandering in ways I had 
not known. Had I constantly kept 
my eyes fixed in its direction, would not 
its light have led me aright ? Shall I not 


68 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


invoke its return? Can I not evoke its 
presence from within my own conscious¬ 
ness? No longer will I leave my own 
soul tenantless! In all future efforts I 
will first seek the silence, and ask that the 
bright light once shown me shall again 
be my guide, leading me into all truth, 
by and through which I may yet attain to 
the heights. 

Now I am no longer perplexed. I am 
beginning more clearly to perceive my 
duty and receive foregleams of the final 
outcome of my labors. I have been at¬ 
tempting to circumnavigate stormy and 
boundless seas without chart, rudder, or 
compass, all of which have been at my 
command, only concealed through the 
withdrawal of that Light, which would 
have been as a lantern unto my feet all 
along the way. 

For the time, as I had allowed it to pass 
from consciousness, all the dark clouds of 


69 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


despair and hopeless discontent had set¬ 
tled around me like a karma, from which 
it seemed impossible to escape. 

The first feelings of rapturous joy and 
triumph, imparted by confidence in the 
final outcome of the struggles in which I 
was then engaged, can never be expressed 
in words. I then felt and knew the real 
Father and His Christ, though both mani¬ 
fested their divine powers by other means 
than I had conceived. 

It was not given me to behold either, 
face to face, as I had been taught to expect 
through some writings. Both had come 
unto my spirit as angel messengers, bear¬ 
ing messages upon planes of my own un- 
foldments, in vibrations which I could 
translate. 

Did they speak to thee in audible tones ? 
Spiritually, yes; materially, no. Did they 
announce their names or in any other 
manner indicate that they appeared in 
special personal forms ? No. 


70 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Came they in the voice of the thunder, 
the loftiest peaks in heaven’s own infinite 
space echoing back in monotones their 
glory, wisdom and power ? No. 

Did the Great Centre of Light show 
unto you His Throne of glory, toward 
which all are attracted? Did He invite 
you into His sublime, august presence? 
No, a thousand times, no. 

Not by any such devious methods did I 
come to a realizing consciousness of that 
for which I had prayed and longed. 

I had simply, by successful labors in the 
attainment of the good, in humility open¬ 
ing my own heart to the reception of 
truth, placed myself in harmonial relations 
with one, or possibly more, of the beautiful, 
absolutely perfect and just laws,— the ema¬ 
nations of Infinite Wisdom. And, accord¬ 
ing to my progressive victories, had I 
realized the presence of the Author and 
His Christ. 


71 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


And thus have they continued to speak 
and teach unto this hour. 

Now, believing myself better equipped 
for the service of my fellow-beings, I saw 
that the field of labors had greatly en¬ 
larged. The scope and purpose of my new 
life had so vastly increased that all former 
horizons seemed to have receded into 
infinite distance. I could perceive the 
presence of want, of spiritual necessities 
in those accounted ignorant and lowly as 
well as among those who in pride of intel¬ 
lect had been inclined to reject such evi¬ 
dences as I had been able to present, with 
the special design of establishing through 
them the facts of existence beyond the 
veil of earth life. 

In observing the results of my labors, I 
perceived that those whom in my previous 
life conditions I had accounted as useful 
and upright citizens in the walks of life, 
by some deemed humble, were less under 


72 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


the dominion of prejudice, more willing to 
receive truth and to profit thereby than 
were others from whom I had expected 
much. 

Their environments, such as social in¬ 
fluences, political and churchal aspira¬ 
tions, prevented not. 

Many came within the influence of 
such vibrations as I was able to command, 
and were thereby instructed in regard to 
their correspondences therewith. 

Some, in former lives, had been deni¬ 
zens in higher realms, and now, in unfort¬ 
unate environments and lowly surround¬ 
ings, were expiating for and correcting 
those defects of character that had held 
them in spiritual bondage, preventing 
converse and association in higher states 
of spiritual advancement. Among such 
I found willing, listening ears, gladly re¬ 
joicing, and trusting to join in celestial 
homes those from whom they had been 
long separated. 


73 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Not content with such ministrations as 
I could find occasions to render them, 
their spirits often came to me, while their 
heavily-burdened frames were seeking res¬ 
torations in sleep. Marvellous spiritual 
experiences had been theirs, and instead 
of being a teacher only, I soon perceived 
that I was receiving new and clearer 
visions of truth, leading to higher, holier 
aspirations. Their weak vessels of clay 
were enclosing precious gems of wondrous 
beauty. In their spiritual homes, they 
soon learned truth, the law of life, and 
wisdom, becoming willing, obedient ser¬ 
vants, in those understandings wherein 
services lead to honorable preferments 
and glorious issues. 

Thus had the bright star of hope shown 
me a new and better way. In walking 
therein I renewed and increased my spir¬ 
itual powers, called to my aid those whom 
I knew not, came to circles where love 


74 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


reigned, drew around me those from many 
spheres who, as students and teachers, 
conferred much, insensibly, gently leading 
me into states of spiritual perception, 
where greater and innumerable victories 
became possible. 

With each new purpose I was enabled 
to conceive methods that would achieve 
desired results. I began to sense higher, 
more beautiful vibrations in atmospheres 
charged with interior meanings, the ex¬ 
istence of which I had not theretofore 
even suspected. 

I felt that my spiritual powers had 
largely increased and that I was, relatively, 
perhaps, as important in my new state of 
being as in any relations I had before sus¬ 
tained to others in material conditions. 
I had obtained new glimpses, important 
to me, and in my imagination I pictured 
special positions of honor, great and 
highly unfolded intelligences as my com- 


75 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


panions. To what heights might not the 
spirit aspire? What metes and bounds 
could circumscribe its ambitions? Had 
I not escaped lower conditions at the out¬ 
set of my celestial career? Did not the 
star lead to new revelations ? Could not 
I now command its presence ? I felt not 
quite so sure in that matter. I could not 
really assert that I had the power of its 
evocation at will. Previously it had been 
shown unto me after the fulfilment of 
duties and obligations. There were cer¬ 
tain relations of spirit toward the law that 
seemed then to exact obedience. Pos¬ 
sibly those are now conditions, compli¬ 
ance with which is required before desired 
blessing will be conferred. Such thoughts, 
passing through my mind, led me to re¬ 
consider, and to ask whether I might not 
have attempted independently that which 
I should have commenced in co-operation. 

The light was indeed burning within, 
76 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


dimly, yet with sufficient radiance and 
power to compel a reconsideration of those 
ideas that I had but a few moments pre¬ 
viously entertained. If I had become a 
child of light, a son of the bright star, why 
not strictly follow its teachings? Why 
should I attempt that in which I should 
probably fail ? Was not evocation of 
higher intelligences and command of their 
wondrous powers reserved to those farther 
advanced in the heavenly way ? 

I was quietly bidden to review my first 
intentions,— told to strive for those vic¬ 
tories within possibilities of achievement, 
that I had not yet reached the heights, 
that there were endless fields in progres¬ 
sive knowledge to explore. 

For instance, had I learned the simplest 
elementary lessons in chemistry? Was 
not this a branch of knowledge which 
could be investigated in my present sphere 
of unfoldment ? How could I go forward, 


77 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


leaving unlearned that which I might be 
required to know farther on ? Without 
having acquired complete mastery in all 
details of every source of wisdom within 
my present surroundings, would I not be 
an unfaithful servant, unworthy to enjoy 
and possess the things reserved for use in 
future progressions ? 

Should I not faithfully labor, doing that 
which I could upon planes of present con¬ 
ception and understanding of duty with¬ 
out hope of reward ? 

Here was an opportunity to study the 
elementary principles of chemistry, that I 
might learn regarding those substances 
forming the body upon which I was de¬ 
pendent, under conditions by which I was 
then surrounded, and needful unto me in 
the performance of spiritual labors. 

I was compelled to admit that I knew 
but very little about the subject. It 
seemed imperative that I should know 
much more. 


78 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


The laws of mathematics ? Did I 
understand them ? I had frequently met 
a distinguished professor in this branch of 
science. Instead of spending any part of 
my leisure opportunities in philosophizing 
upon subjects in regard to which I was 
not in correspondence to understanding^ 
receive all the truth, why not learn funda¬ 
mental principles from those competent to 
teach ? 

Had I not, both upon earth and in 
spirit, neglected common, practical affairs, 
and without due preparation sought to 
dwell in empyreal atmospheres? 

Then I began to realize that the foun¬ 
dations of absolute knowledge must be 
laid deep; that no superstructure, however 
symmetrical and beautiful its architectural 
design, was really secure unless founded 
upon the rock of absolute fact. 

I had frequently read and, in a way, 
accepted the statement that all laws of the 


79 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


universe were based upon true mathemat¬ 
ics. That, above all others, that was the 
one perfect science. How much had I 
really learned about the great truths in¬ 
volved therein ? 

I had spent an average life upon earth, 
really knowing and caring little about 
figures, which I now perceived were all the 
time representing eternal verities, expo¬ 
nents of perfect law. 

Had I not entertained almost a total 
disregard for this whole subject? When 
in the material body I could never under¬ 
stand how certain friends should, from 
year to year, continue studying what ap¬ 
peared to me dry, hard, commonplace, 
mathematical, and geometrical figures 
conveying not much information. 

Were these sciences what I then really 
supposed ? Apparently not so to those 
who had delved beneath the surface and 
appearance of things. Those friends had 


80 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


been learning much concerning matters 
which I should not have neglected. 

Unconsciously they were studying first 
principles, foundations of an infinite uni¬ 
verse, whose maker and builder, called 
and worshipped under many names, is 
both Separate, Partless Unity, Absolute 
Wisdom. They were learning of and 
sharing that Wisdom, illustrated by those 
figures, much that you and I must know 
before we go forward. 

I will seek my friends, and ask that in 
their class - rooms (for they are yet 
teachers) I, too, may be received as a 
pupil,— that I may come as a spirit in 
darkness, and be instructed in the rudi¬ 
ments of practical knowledge, so that hav¬ 
ing mastered basic principles, I may 
apply myself to the study of a more gen¬ 
eral knowledge included in mathematical 
summaries wherein I have found myself 
especially deficient. 

81 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


About this period in my experience, I 
was constantly reminded by occurrences 
like in substance, if not in detail, to what 
I have here narrated, that the bonds of 
ignorance were still holding me to earth. 
I began to comprehend some of the facts 
of being,— that all the wisdom in each 
sphere of habitation must be thoroughly 
mastered in principle, and practically in 
methods of use and application, before I 
could hope to advance into other and 
higher conditions, and that before such 
unfoldment could be fully realized I 
should be subjected to thorough examina¬ 
tions, not only as to my progress in 
knowledge, but also required to give an 
account of my stewardship in the use and 
practical benefits conferred upon others 
through that which had been revealed to 
me. 

Why had I in these directions delayed 
so long? Had I not been blind, not to 


82 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


understand how important and operative 
had ever been those wonderful laws about 
which I was now desirous of learning ? 

Only through knowledge of chemistry 
and mathematics could I hope to gain 
complete control over elemental condi¬ 
tions. 

Without knowledge of the principles of 
these sciences I realized that I could not 
enter higher states of unfoldment; for is 
it not universal law that all things in 
correspondence must be assimilated be¬ 
fore new revelations in consciousness are 
given ? I perceived causes for my par¬ 
tial failure among those whom I had 
elected to serve. 

Previously I had not been able to teach 
divine laws to those upon planes of higher 
intellectual unfoldments. I had been 
trying to approach them upon too ma¬ 
terial lines, causing antagonisms that nat¬ 
urally follow discussions of such subjects, 


83 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


between persons in earthly spheres. That 
I had not wholly divested myself of ma¬ 
terial conditions, was fully confirmed to 
me by the results of my efforts. Reason 
and argument emanating from other than 
truly spiritual sources are weak, propor¬ 
tionally ineffectual as they are suggested 
or evolved by material conditions. 

Had I now attained to such light that I 
could again venture suggestions to certain 
ones ? I was not wholly sure whether 
duty to self and those from whom I 
had received but little required that I 
should. Upon reflection I thought, how¬ 
ever, to follow the leading of conviction, 
feeling that light would be given equal to 
every emergency and need. In pursuance 
of that conviction I went forth, special 
objects not fully defined, desires raised in 
aspirations for superior help. An angel 
of light preceded, pointing the way, di¬ 
recting my thoughts, delighting in my 


84 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 

r 

successes, and encouraging when my 
furled banner responded not to oppor¬ 
tune breezes. 

On this special mission what new les¬ 
sons could I, out of my own limited knowl¬ 
edge, teach others ? Was it not that one 
could, in all his struggles, appeal to those 
in superior states ? That it was the law 
of life in heaven and earth ? 

I had myself neglected appeals to such 
sources, ignorantly supposing that I must 
independently work out my own destiny, 
not knowing the means for accomplish¬ 
ment of the purposes and ends of spiritual 
being. Was not it the essential position 
of those upon whom I was to impress and 
urge this great truth ? 

Would I be kindly received? As 
thoughts and difficulties of like nature 
were constantly obtruding, increasing the 
darkness, I was gently reminded to go 
forth in the service of spirit, working as 


85 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


the light was shown unto me, and told that 
rewards would be conferred by those who 
had attained to states of interior harmony, 
enabling them to justly correspond efforts 
and results. 

I was advised that the seed-sower was 
not necessarily the harvester; that the 
harvester may not partake. Yet, from 
lowest to highest manifestation of laws 
throughout the universe, I consciously 
knew that there prevailed absolute har¬ 
mony and perfect order, each particle of 
matter, permeated by spirit, evolving in¬ 
finite designs through Nature’s unerring 
laws, having their origin in sources where 
infinite wisdom, enthroned in supernal 
light, governs all things in perfect order, 
the original Cause, Source of every good. 
That which appears to mortals and all 
spirits in lower spheres other than perfect, 
is explainable upon the simple statement 
that such intelligences are not spiritual- 


86 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


ized and in harmonial relations to all 
truth, consequently are unable to perceive 
the perfect reign of order, truth and love, 
in what appears to them chaos, the rule of 
chance and fate. 

I had been taught another and impor¬ 
tant lesson by these recent experiences, 
that of necessity for concentration and 
conservation of energy for specially selected 
fields of labor. 

Heretofore I had been influenced by an 
inexpressible, indefinable hope, purpose, 
desire to aggregate all efforts, and imme¬ 
diately, by one supreme endeavor, accom¬ 
plish that which seemed to me of such 
vast importance and appealing to higher 
consciousness. 

In the light of subsequent experiences 
I now knew that such hopes were prin¬ 
cipally founded upon concentrated as¬ 
sumption and ignorance. The attendant 
spirit who had at first inspired my zeal, 


87 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


unfolded new conceptions of law, directed 
my labors in special channels, had de¬ 
parted from my conscious presence. 

An important mission, however, for me 
had been shown. I had also received 
an object lesson not soon to fade from 
memory. Now that the light upon 
which I had begun to rely, under the 
intelligent rays of which I had assumed 
to walk in pride and strength of self- 
sufficiency, shone for me no longer, my 
spirit, heavily weighed, groaning under 
great perplexities, beset by trials, tribu¬ 
lations and anxieties not possible to 
name, or portray, would have sunken 
by the wayside and have sought relief 
through another life in a world of jar¬ 
ring discords like unto those I had so 
recently escaped, had I not at this mo¬ 
ment caught the vibrations sent forth 
from one who had been an object of my 
recent ministrations. I perfectly trans- 


88 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


lated those aspirations, longings, infinite 
hopes, dreadful doubts, ill-concealed fears. 
I perceived them from out the ethers of 
space, and knew to whom they appealed. 

My night of despair vanished; the 
bright sunlight, with its glorious hopes, 
possibilities, radiated bliss, satisfaction, 
infused renewed zeal. An immortal soul 
had broken the shackles and chains which 
had so long bound and held it in subjec¬ 
tion to material karmas. It had realized 
an emancipation, and the proclamation of 
truth had come through my instrumen¬ 
tality. Henceforth, let not my spirit be 
cast down,— the grovelling life and things 
of earth are naught to me,— spirit calls 
to spirit, and the deeper wisdom of heaven 
itself will surely in God’s good time be 
fully revealed. I will hasten on the jour¬ 
ney and some time come to the Mount of 
Transfiguration. There, laying aside all 
the garments which time and circum- 
89 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


stance have woven around me, I will don 
a new robe, beautiful in texture, whiter 
than the driven snow; mine by right of 
conquest, an inheritance reserved through 
all the ages, in perfect harmony with love 
and the inner sources of all superlative 
radiations. 

Gird on your armor again, raise it from 
the depths into which you have but just 
now cast it. It is already bright, and 
lighter and more attractive than when 
weary, footsore and distressed you sank 
under its heavy load. There are reserved 
for you new victories. 

Go forth and teach some of the truths 
which you have been recently acquiring 
under your teachers. You will find great 
beauty, symmetry, order in that which 
before you could perceive but little, prac¬ 
tically only means to ends,— that the 
adept therein might more readily exploit 
the necessities and ignorance of his 
neighbor. 


90 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


You will find that both are intimate 
friends of the Great Architect,— trusted 
vice-gerents, sent to harmonize apparent 
chaos, establish knowledge and the reign 
of law, teach conceptions of order, and 
through their mastery enable their obedi¬ 
ent devotees to progress beyond others, 
becoming leaders, successful teachers, 
and with surpassing celerity, scaling 
seemingly impossible heights. 

You will no more reject any form of 
spiritual expression, for you will under¬ 
stand better than before that every vibra¬ 
tion in etheric space is freighted with 
knowledge from the Great Oversoul, and 
that as you aspire for all truth, so will 
you learn the law of its acquirement. 
I raised my eyes to heaven, and, lo! 
the star was shining brightly. 


91 


CHAPTER III. 


Through later experiences and from 
revelations, I perceived that the spirit 
could more perfectly comprehend the 
scope, order and purpose served by the life 
from which it had been released, and the 
reasons of penalties for disobedience of the 
law; that through its subjective memory it 
could recall the circumstances of each deed 
committed in the mortal state which, by 
reflection, became clearly visible, often 
reproduced as shadows of spirit, sometimes 
also shown as pictures, and for interpreta¬ 
tion referred to the revelations of con¬ 
sciousness; that escape from undesirable 
visions was possible through aspiration 
and the life of spiritual supremacy, and 
that through such adaptation of means to 
ends one could pass into spheres, or zones, 


92 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


where even the reflection of evil does 
not obtain; that the visions of memory, 
though sometimes entailing the most in¬ 
tense forms of spiritual suffering, were 
indeed means under the cosmic law for 
the attainment of a more perfect unfold- 
ment of all latent spiritual possessions. 

It was also perceived that, in some re¬ 
spects, states of error corresponded to con¬ 
ditions taught by many upon earth as the 
purgatorial existence; that belief in the 
eternality of such relations should be 
rejected, though through the law of attrac¬ 
tive correspondences its subjects were 
sometimes held in bondage for long 
periods; that the positive assertion of the 
spirit’s prerogatives always unfolded clearer 
perceptions of reality and prepared condi¬ 
tions for entrance to more sublimated 
atmospheres and the subsequent enjoy¬ 
ment of greater freedom ; that, through 
obedience to the law, the spirit in mortal 


93 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


life could acquire such sovereignty over 
the lower self that at will it could con¬ 
sciously inhabit spheres of thought where 
wisdom rules, and appropriate to its use 
and profit the effluences which there ob¬ 
tain, and that through aspiration a more 
perfect knowledge of the law could be 
realized; that the possessor of such light 
became a reflector of divine truth, inspir¬ 
ing others to seek the higher realizations 
of spirit, and that through a realization of 
the light one could become a teacher in 
the higher spheres of spiritual wisdom. 

As upon earth, so in spirit he would 
have his admirers and followers, and would 
unconsciously receive a divine compensa¬ 
tion in spheres of increased usefulness. 

Such rewards became very beautiful 
object lessons to others seeking the truth. 

The auras of those in the gloom of 
ignorance, as they obtained more wisdom, 
changed in color, and memory no longer 


94 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


recalled deeds and thoughts inharmonious 
to new and better ideals. 

Aspiration, as a means of spiritual 
growth, could and should be employed by 
those seeking special guidance in every 
state of existence, and that through such 
methods the fields of usefulness and the 
horizon of spiritual vision could be greatly 
enlarged. 

Divine realizations created a desire to 
obtain more light and to teach others the 
truth. 

There were also other means suscep¬ 
tible of profitable employment, and that 
one could, in his first spiritual experiences 
and ever thereafter, derive signal benefits 
therefrom. 

He might confidently hope to obtain 
abundant and satisfactory evidences of the 
spirit’s final apotheosis. 

Divine truth was revealed upon every 
plane where the spirit perceived, and the 


95 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


spirit in its progressive realizations was 
ever susceptible of wonderful unfoldment 
of its intuitive possibilities. 

Thereby conditions were prepared for 
the influx of divine wisdom, and new 
states of being were evolved in deific cor¬ 
respondences. 

Through every spiritual experience a 
higher consciousness could be unfolded 
and the spirit’s latent powers more fully 
realized. 

Concentration was the master-key un¬ 
locking many hidden treasures, confirm¬ 
ing in the perfect light what hitherto had 
been but dimly perceived. 

From the heights, the spirit could real¬ 
ize in constantly increasing and progres¬ 
sive ratios its relations to the Infinite 
Intelligence. 

The intuitions of spirit distinctly re¬ 
vealed a probable final realization of ab¬ 
solute harmony. 


96 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Aspiration for the highest, accepting 
the evidences of truth, is always rewarded 
by a more perfect realization. 

Hope became a mode of the spirit and 
served beneficent ends. 

There were no ideal conditions of spirit 
perceived as visions in lower states of 
being, not possible to attain in the high¬ 
est spheres; nor was the spirit limited to 
such ideations only. 

Good thoughts, through the alchemy 
of spirit, were transmuted into cosmic 
forces and became agents for the indi¬ 
vidual realization of the Divine Unity. 

Refined and purified thoughts became 
vehicles by means of which the illuminati 
taught the truth and pointed the way to 
absolute freedom. 

The unchanging law led to the final 
centralization of spirit in the One Abso¬ 
lute. 

The mortal conditions were repeated 


97 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


until the spirit fully apprehended and 
realized this central fact of being. 

After many experiences, unperceived 
truth came as a revelation and enabled 
the spirit to realize its final destiny. 

After having received new light, I per¬ 
ceived the necessity laid upon me of a 
more perfect idealization of the life. 
Hitherto, in the mists surrounding my 
varied experiences, though I had sought 
the pure light of truth, I had caught its 
scintillations and occasional rays but im¬ 
perfectly. Experiences thus obtained had, 
however, served certain uses, but in my 
present state of being, reliance wholly 
upon them would have been like trusting 
to worn-out vehicles, no longer useful for 
the realization of cosmos. 

Now I determined that henceforth I 
would seek to absorb the very essence of 
truth and love permeating infinite space, 
that I might scale the heights and behold 


98 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


the celestial light. Despite objective 
teachings and influences of earth, there is 
a spiritual light clearer than noonday sun, 
only obscured by clouds of my own crea¬ 
tion. Nature, sublime and beautiful, has 
provided all the elements, and placed 
them at my disposal, when I shall have 
learned their spiritual meanings and made 
them subservient to loftiest aspirations. 

Understanding the law and the pos¬ 
sible attainment under it, I will further 
unfold my own divinity and lead others 
to seek wisdom from highest sources 
and appropriate all lessons that the truth 
inspires. 

Should I not use my spiritual posses¬ 
sions for the glory of the Most High ? 
Will not mortals upon earth listen to 
the new teaching? Yes, in a universal 
and general sense. No, or perhaps no, 
in the particular application. There are 
many souls desirous of light upon the 


99 



A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


general and abstract proposition, not, 
however, so amenable to special and per¬ 
sonal methods of instruction. 

Believing that spirit will respond to 
spirit, and that some one may be con¬ 
sciously led from chaos to order, from 
darkness to light, I will appeal unto the 
Highest for more wisdom and follow 
the light of divine intuition. I will 
again pass to earthly conditions, carry¬ 
ing with me new messages of truth and 
love. One friend has heard the call to 
search for the divine realities, others 
may also sense the vibrations of spirit 
and realize their meaning. Not science, 
art, poetry, music, nor any other attrac¬ 
tion separately, but all combined in a 
divine harmony, will conspire to teach 
sacred lessons, and in them shall be found 
better than food, if neither meat nor 
drink, yet all-sufficient for the needs of 
humanity, which will sustain it in every 


IOO 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


condition of its existence, perpetually 
renewing aspirations, and preparing other 
and better conditions for, and in, the 
eternal now. 

So, filled with spiritual light, I go forth 
in humbleness and hope, to teach the 
truth until it shall make those who come 
into its correspondence free indeed. I 
have now learned something of the limi¬ 
tations of spirit, and can wait upon infi¬ 
nite wisdom for results. 

Having eternity at command, I do not 
fear the coming of the last hour, nor the 
sounding of any resurrection trump, call¬ 
ing me from the service of love. All 
calls to duty are, in a sense, new resur¬ 
rections ; all deeds performed in highest 
use, foregleams of other and better ex¬ 
periences. Hath it not been decreed 
that by the sweat of the brow, man shall 
earn his daily bread ? Is not the law 
equally operative in all the infinities of 
space ? 


IOI 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Having knowledge of the truth and 
that the ordinances of love are all sy¬ 
nonymous and synchronous, I cannot fail 
in any sphere in which I may find at¬ 
traction. The finer forces will always 
respond to every need of spirit, and 
become useful agents in unfoldment of 
its progressive destiny. The universe is 
man’s, awaiting only his understanding 
of the condition for its possession. The 
omnipresent and unchanging law justi¬ 
fies the reason in all researches for its 
definition. 

Great masters of the past have ever 
found wide fields in which to teach. So 
will it forever be in the future. As the 
horizon recedes, opportunities increase, 
and more interesting and beautiful pano¬ 
ramas delight the vision and urge me on. 
I have but to adapt myself to the law of 
conditions to become an inheritor of all 
wisdom which, though now but imperfectly 


102 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


perceived, is as old as time itself. The 
laws of the cosmos equally obtain in every 
sphere and condition of the spirit’s exist¬ 
ence, revealing to those in correspondence 
therewith beautiful syntheses. Such ex¬ 
periences inspire deepest reverence for the 
great source of all law and truth. With 
the realization of greater wisdom the 
spirit can teach more of truth, achieving 
victories where hope might well nigh have 
sought oblivion in eternal night,— were 
such a condition possible for spirit in any 
of its relations or conditions of being. 

Now, better equipped, my spirit readily 
responds to the voice and the vision. 
Hope mounts upon pinions of love to 
celestial altitudes, and true altruistic ideals 
inspire my soul. The actualities of the 
spiritual life vary not in principle from the 
homely, necessary and useful duties of 
humanity. Are we not all included in the 
cosmic grandeur and in ratios as we serve 

103 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


the uses of spirit inheritors of the ineffable 
bliss? Yes, indeed. But here, also, the 
law speaks to us through its inexorable 
conditions, as unto the sons of earth. 
The soul that would obtain to the celestial 
harmonies cannot, except in obedience to 
the law, find the way of life, of truth, and 
infinite progression. For the law is the 
mode of the expression of the principle, 
the essence of being. Under its opera¬ 
tion, all evolutions and harmonial relations 
obtain. The antithesis is chaos, loss of 
spiritual influence, dissipation of power, 
requiring rebirth, often through personal 
embodiments in states which, instead of 
commanding conditions, force the victims 
of such entailments to become servants 
unto those who have not acted so un¬ 
wisely. 

The will at the door of consciousness 
renders possible the attainment of a 
knowledge of the better way, in pursuance 


104 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


of which the lower karmic states can be 
avoided. The polarization of all spiritual 
aspirations in consciousness precedes 
illumination and the unfolding of the 
theocracy. This is the law of being. Let 
all understand the issue and be guided by 
its unchanging behest. Spiritual methods 
for obtaining supremacy in the hierar¬ 
chies of heaven have been wisely left for 
intuitional discovery. 

Through self-unfolded powers, each 
must outwork his own deliverance. Ac¬ 
cording to his progression, he prepares 
conditions for the influx of divine wis¬ 
dom. So is the progressive understand¬ 
ing of law revealed. Divine prescience 
is also more fully realized as one comes 
into harmonial relation with the law, and 
through it obtains to the mastery of the 
self. Finally, other and greater attain¬ 
ments (sometimes acquired only after 
centuries of struggle) endow the spirit 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


with such wondrous powers that even a 
knowledge of them is wisely withheld from 
the neophyte. 

Neither negation nor affirmation avail 
in the sphere of Divinity. There must 
be perfect unity and oneness before there 
is perfect realization of highest spiritual 
perception. There are, however, many 
calls of duty, many opportunities to teach 
in other and lower states or spheres 
where superior though not deific knowl¬ 
edge avails much. Through such asso¬ 
ciations, spirits incarnate and excarnate 
may enter into beautiful relations for 
mutual and useful purposes. Such asso¬ 
ciations are in accord with the law, 
though in the silence the apotheosis is 
more fully realized. There, as it were, 
the deep calls unto the deep, and the lofti¬ 
est aspirations of the soul find spiritual 
counterparts. There, the perfect revela¬ 
tions are actualized in expression. There, 

106 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


also, all the deflected rays of light play¬ 
ing in the spiritual photospheres, in in¬ 
finite varieties of expression and colors, 
so little understood, and which to many 
seem without purpose, are polarized in 
the pure white light. Through such ex¬ 
perience the Omnipotent One, the Foun¬ 
tain of Law, is more clearly perceived in 
conscience and consciousness. Such are 
some of the lessons which have been 
given unto my spirit for divine uses. 

Upon other occasions, I had not con¬ 
sidered a knowledge of many spiritual 
conditions required for the conversion of 
others. Now, however, I perceived I 
could not go forth too well equipped. 
Antagonisms had been aroused through 
apparently very forcible arguments, against 
the teachings of the evidential phenomena, 
presented by my former friend and pres¬ 
ent co-worker. 

It was desirable and necessary that I 


107 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


should reinforce his waning confidence, 
and also make more effective appeals to 
the consciousness of those inclined to ac¬ 
cept the revealed facts concerning a fu¬ 
ture existence. 

The everlasting cannot be understood 
nor realized through collateral evidences. 
The perfect law, in its entirety, is beyond 
human understanding and perception, but 
none the less self-existent and eternal. 
It is unconfined, and above time, space, 
or any other limitation. He that would 
gain an approximately clear perception 
of it must first evolve the divine self-con¬ 
sciousness. Such evolution must ever 
be an individual triumph; it places at 
the spirit’s command the key which 
unlocks many secret occult avenues, all 
of which finally converge in the great 
spiritual highway, which needs not the 
sun, moon nor stars, for there infinite 
light is sufficient unto every traveller. 
Over those walking therein, angels 

108 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


keep watch; they are not permitted to 
go far astray. Through the understand¬ 
ing of divine methods, the followers of 
the light accomplish much. 

Having obtained some light, I saw 
that the goal of the spirit’s aspirations 
must be won, if at all, through appealing 
to the God within, through reason, intui¬ 
tion, spiritual perception, conscience and 
other divine attributes of the soul. Lim¬ 
itless the field for discovery. If the life 
and the aspirations of spirit upon the 
physical planes of existence find corre¬ 
spondences or counterparts in the spir¬ 
itual, all the sweet harmonies in the in¬ 
finities of space lead to success. Fear is 
eliminated, hope triumphs, and the light 
of consciousness shines in beautiful radi¬ 
ance. 

What I subsequently observed and 
learned, all necessary prerequisites for 
the office of a messenger of light, will 
be referred to in the succeeding chapter. 


CHAPTER IV. 


As man’s relations and attractions, 
realized through aspiration and the life, 
are the principal means through which he 
attains to higher states, and, as some are 
very sensitive to such correspondences, 
I naturally sought to reach those whose 
perceptions were unfolded upon planes 
similar to those with which I had been 
in harmonial relations when in the human 
form. 

I felt that I could reveal to them im¬ 
portant truths which had come to me con¬ 
cerning the spiritual existence, and which 
through them, could be used as valuable 
aids for the education of others, leading 
many to become living epistles, if you so 
please, of divine truth. I was desirous of 
more fully communicating many facts 


no 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


that I had been unable previously to re¬ 
veal. 

I felt that a knowledge of the law con¬ 
trolling the conditions of spirit life, if act¬ 
ually understood in its interoperations 
and influences, by even a single mortal, 
might ultimately, through that one, be 
transmitted to the race, and by its benef¬ 
icent influence free many from the bond¬ 
age of superstition, theological miscon¬ 
ceptions and philosophical errors; that 
through such knowledge man would ob¬ 
tain a more complete mastery of his 
environments, be able to impart to others 
many facts concerning the superior state, 
regulate his own material occupations, 
select kinds of foods, and to ultimately 
establish better social and spiritual means 
of intercourse and education. It also ap¬ 
peared to me probable that other and 
possibly greater benefits than those here 
referred to would be received by inter- 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


ested disciples of those truths which I 
was seeking to teach, for I had learned 
that as a mortal spirit receives knowledge 
and attains highly important unfoldments, 
it realizes life and spiritual conditions in 
their cosmical relations, and not from the 
limited horizon of time and sense; that 
the spirit, as a condition of its own prog¬ 
ress, must ever serve the needs of those 
in inferior states; that every son of the 
universe, by virtue of his spiritual posses¬ 
sions, however limited in expression, 
could appeal to, and rightfully demand 
the considerate attention of advanced 
teachers of truth ; that through such re¬ 
lations he consciously receives knowledge, 
prepares for entrance to higher spheres, 
and better serves spirit in the circles of 
truth and righteousness. 

For is not the lowest son of earth a 
spirit ? 

And if he is a spark of Divinity, even 


112 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


though dwelling upon the very outermost 
rim of the circle, in the midnight dark¬ 
ness, alone, separated for the time from 
the Great Light, in a universe of matter, 
not yet familiar with nor seemingly con¬ 
trolled by differentiated and understood 
laws, he will survive all changes and 
cataclysmic upheavals of nature, and 
finally emerge into conditions where, as 
spirit, he can and will assert the dignity 
of his origin, and the inherent powers of 
his divine attributes. 

The wise will put no obstacle in the 
way of such. 

There are many deep meanings and 
various interpretations to the words of 
the great Seer of Israel, “ Suffer little 
children to come unto me and forbid 
them not.” 

The Christ, esoterically considered, is 
an individual as well as a cosmic posses¬ 
sion, and it is the law that the individual 


13 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


spirit in conditions of weakness and ig¬ 
norance, as well as in superior light 
may, if it so wills, receive recognition and 
spiritual instructions from those compe¬ 
tent to impart knowledge. 

That is destiny. 

Upon earth men have established so¬ 
cial orders and castes, which frequently 
subserve divine ends. I cannot criti¬ 
cise the wisdom of much that has been 
wrought into the various systems of gov¬ 
ernment, and formulated by legislation. 
In their final results, conditions so cre¬ 
ated frequently lead to more desirable 
forms of civilization than had been pre¬ 
viously attained, under the operation of 
preceding systems, even though the 
later and more modern expressions of 
the law have not always reflected the 
wisdom of sages nor involved highest 
forms of ethical teachings. 

There are, in some respects, seemingly 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


corresponding states of being in the 
celestial hierarchies. The former lead¬ 
ers in social states and caste, if they 
subserved the highest good of spirit in 
previous lives, are now rewarded in 
divine realization. If, however, they 
have not been so wise, they have indeed 
for the time placed millstones, so to speak, 
about their necks. 

The gifts of the spirit — intuition, per¬ 
ception, consciousness and other allied 
attributes — are not useless possessions 
nor mockeries. They hold each and 
every one to strict accountability, and 
finally clothe their faithful votaries 
and servants in regal robes of beauty, 
indicative of acquired supremacy. In 
all conditions, absolute and equitable 
rewards and penalties follow. 

All rulers, under whatever form of gov¬ 
ernment, are equally subject to the un¬ 
changing law. 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


It is noticeable that as a spirit has 
thought, so has it become. Here pure 
thoughts have wrought spiritual revo¬ 
lutions, and now, as integral possessions 
of consciousness, have become efficient 
aids in the realization of sublime and 
useful wisdom. To those thus illumi¬ 
nated, the neophyte may appeal when 
desiring light upon matters of highest 
importance. Such, by virtue of supe¬ 
rior wisdom, become guides and teach¬ 
ers to those seeking the truth. Fortu¬ 
nate, indeed, is he who attracts to his 
atmosphere the great expounders of the 
heavenly wisdom. Great also is the re¬ 
sponsibility of the one who has obtained 
the light, for upon his teachings impor¬ 
tant issues depend. 

Wonderful powers are attained only 
by those whose moral correspondences 
have prepared conditions for their proper 
exercise and control. But of the aspi- 

116 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


rants, or pupils? What of them? The 
hosts of Israel of old are said to have 
been fed upon manna from heaven. All 
under the broad canopies of the universe 
may receive spiritual manna, which shall 
not only become as meat and drink, but 
which also will enable partakers thereof 
to pass the boundaries of present knowl¬ 
edge and reach the planes of higher 
spiritual relation. 

It largely depends upon the will to 
appropriate for spiritual benefit the 
teachings of the illuminati, and to learn 
through the lessons of experience the 
perfect and unchanging law, through 
the proper interpretation of which is 
conferred upon each one, sufficient light 
for the needs of the spirit in its vari¬ 
ous stages of realization. 

The ultimate relations of the spirit to 
the law cannot be better illustrated by 
me than through a statement of the fact 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


of the spirit’s gradual unfoldment, with 
increased powers of receptivity, as occa¬ 
sions arise requiring further knowledge. 
Such necessities are perceived and spe¬ 
cial powers conferred, when the knowledge 
obtainable upon present planes of exist¬ 
ence has been used, and served the pur¬ 
pose and end of being. It is the law 
that existing avenues of wisdom must 
first have been fully explored, leaving 
nothing of importance undiscovered, be¬ 
fore the spirit obtains entrance to other 
and more extended horizons, where the 
expressions of the law appear in more 
sublimated forms, and the spirit, through 
clearer intuitions and perceptions, is able 
to evolve higher realizations than it had 
previously attained in lower states or 
spheres. 

There is but one unchanging law, su¬ 
preme in all the universe. The spirit in 
its evolution to different spheres of reali- 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


zation ever remains subject to it, though 
at times it may perceive new manifesta¬ 
tions of its operation and learn that it 
has escaped the demands of the old and 
entered into a new state of being where 
it apparently has become a law unto itself. 
The spirit will, however, continue through 
each experience to learn more of the 
beautiful, synthetical relations in higher 
conditions of unending life than it had 
before comprehended — yet all will be but 
expressions of the supreme, unchanging 
cosmic order. Each step of the spirit’s 
progress reveals clearer perceptions of 
harmony and celestial grandeur. Finally 
come the perfect revelations and mani¬ 
festations of the law, completely justify¬ 
ing its existence and control in universal 
affairs. The reason accepts the issue. 
When this state has been attained, the 
spirit’s exaltation has truly become a 
fact of being. Wonderful disclosures 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


now wait upon it. An important vic¬ 
tory has been won; new and better con¬ 
ditions and states prepared. 

He who has achieved so much may 
go forth a messenger of light, teach 
much, influence many, finally binding 
his sheaves together in bands of love, 
claim them as evidence of faithful stew¬ 
ardship. Through such ministrations he 
comes into unity with the law and per¬ 
ceives its mode of expression. 

Having now come to a clearer percep¬ 
tion of the reasonableness and perfect 
justice of the law, and fully understand¬ 
ing that all were subject to its control, 
and that only by obedience to it could 
conditions pervaded by light and wisdom 
be realized, it seemed to me that my 
friends in spheres of humanity would 
readily accept the truths I might present. 

That they would teach others from out 
the new and greater thesaurus seemed 
probable. 


120 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


At first I could with difficulty control 
the thought vibrations, and from this 
cause, might without aid have failed in 
directing and concentrating upon any 
individual spirit. 

Upon the larger plane of spiritual ex¬ 
istence, what appears the natural condi¬ 
tion and order everywhere prevailing, 
a part of the life, interwoven and insep¬ 
arable from the universal spirit,— the 
eternal effluence,— cannot be wholly 
made available nor always clearly im¬ 
parted as knowledge to the sons of earth, 
for the instruction and development of 
spirit. The methods of teaching which 
obtain in higher states of being are spe¬ 
cial, and beyond present mortal realiza¬ 
tion. 

It is necessary for a spiritual teacher 
of humanity to synthesize, concentrate 
and aggregate the conglomerate, intel¬ 
lectual and spiritual forces, near to, and 


121 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


surrounding individual entities upon the 
plane of earth, bringing them into har- 
monial relations to more advanced spir¬ 
itual states of being. Ultimately, perfect 
vibrations, through such means become 
operative, find their correspondences in 
sound, color, magnetic and electric auras, 
like to those emanating from higher spir¬ 
itualized individualities. 

It is possible to impress those in earthly 
forms through the medium of physical and 
psychical phenomena and counterparts. 

Wisdom is, however, more frequently re¬ 
ceived through vibrations from spiritual 
spheres. Such appeals relate to highest 
capacities. Success in such efforts require 
that there shall be psychic and spiritual cor¬ 
respondences established between the sub¬ 
jective and objective intelligences. Under 
favorable conditions, the mortal mind 
may become the willing and useful in¬ 
strument of the spirit. Some sensitives 


122 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


develop wonderful capacities in the as¬ 
cending scale of spiritual realizations. 
The finer spiritual relations, however, 
are not fully realized until celestial cor¬ 
respondences obtain. 

The higher revelations are possible 
only through the co-operation of those 
in spirit who, by their superior attain¬ 
ments, have acquired a perfect knowledge 
of the law of intercommunication. Such, 
by virtue of their wisdom, exercise the of¬ 
fice of teachers, and control over many 
lower conditions. 

The advanced illuminati are able to 
create psychic waves of great intensity, 
and through them reveal unto recep¬ 
tive minds a knowledge of the beautiful 
laws, through which spirit proclaims with 
unerring accuracy facts concerning the 
perfect wisdom, the infinite source, from 
which all intuitions and spiritual posses¬ 
sions are in essence derived and made 
to manifest divinity. 

123 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


Equipped with sufficient understanding 
of the law and aided by the masters, any 
spirit may so control the powers and in¬ 
strumentalities of the spiritual world as 
to enable it to reach and influence some 
one or more of those in earthly condi¬ 
tions, who can define forms of expression 
in both the material and spiritual states. 

The measure of the value of teachings 
received by the mortal from such sources, 
correspond to the will, receptive capacity 
and uses to which they are applied. It 
principally depends upon the aspirant 
himself whether he receives the spiritual 
manna abundantly, and profits thereby, or 
in the recesses of his heart rejects the 
truth and becomes the vehicle of in¬ 
fluences leading to disintegration, chaos 
and necessity of rebirth. 

No one gains access to higher spheres 
except through obedience to the intui¬ 
tions of the higher self which, properly 


24 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


defined, are modes of the law for individ¬ 
ual guidance. 

Correspondences to certain prevailing 
spiritual conditions is evidence of the 
spirit’s present realization. There is, 
however, no limitation of its possibilities. 
Its present sphere is neither fixed nor 
permanent. It inherently possesses all 
the latent powers needful for the realiza¬ 
tion of perfect harmony. Methods may 
for the time seem to fail, but constant 
impressions received from higher sources 
will awaken aspiration, and lead the spirit 
out of bondage to material influences into 
light and freedom. 

There is an aura indicating by its color 
and luminosity the spiritual correspond¬ 
ences to which one has attained. Its ex¬ 
pressions are perceptible to adepts and 
seers. It is also, as it were, a means, 
clearer and more positive than any 
written hieroglyphics, how to estimate 


25 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


character, and becomes effectual for 
understanding how best to convey spirit¬ 
ual instruction. To some it may be 
needful that the lessons of physical phe¬ 
nomena, touching the feelings and finally 
awakening reason, should be taught, and 
to others through appeals made to higher 
psychical possessions. All approaches 
to the spirit, however, are but means to 
ends, and as such may be made to sub¬ 
serve beneficent purposes in the divine 
harmony. There are no set rules or 
methods of procedure. 

Any spirit desirous of becoming a 
messenger of light and truth may elect 
or prescribe for itself such a course or 
method as may seem to it best designed 
to secure results, and in the final court of 
conscience, the wisdom of its selection 
and faithfulness of its stewardship will be 
revealed. 

As previous possessions have prepared 


26 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


the spirit to teach, so may it hope to aid 
the realization of divinity in others. It 
is, however, always better for the neophyte 
to sit at the feet of a Gamaliel of wisdom 
until light is perceived ’ than to attempt the 
office of hierophant without sufficient prep¬ 
aration. 

The vast armies of subalterns upon the 
plane of earth require for leaders the Illu¬ 
minati of the celestial spheres, nor are 
the great teachers unmindful of the needs 
of those in lower conditions of spirit. 
They come for highest good, and teach 
those in ignorance of the law’s require¬ 
ments, sublime truths. 

Sensitive organisms of many of earth’s 
children are employed by the great 
teachers for divine ends. They do not, 
however, require any one to blindly ac¬ 
cept. They teach always to listen to the 
voice and judge by the results. They 
direct willing subjects and expound wis- 


127 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


dom, which may be appropriated as an 
absolute possession of spirit. 

The true light is a beacon unto all who 
come into the sphere of its influence, nor 
need a lesser luminary ever be mistaken 
for it. He who seeks co-operation with 
the great teachers of spiritual wisdom is 
never left in ignorance of the fact that 
the instructions he receives from them are 
for the purpose of the spirit’s preparation 
to receive more direct impressions from 
the Infinite Source of all knowledge 
through his own intuitions. They always 
assert that they are but servants unto the 
Infinite. Other teachings should be dis¬ 
trusted and rejected. 

The highest and most useful knowl¬ 
edge can never be exploited in the field 
of physical phenomena. Forms and the 
trance may subserve the temporary pur¬ 
pose of inciting investigation by the 
student. Some knowledge of the law of 


128 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


being may thereby be derived from those 
in higher spiritual correspondences, if 
such be the attraction, but the perfect 
understanding of truth is only attainable 
through individual consciousness and 
realization of the Infinite. 

As each one is spirit, and experiences 
and states are always separate and indi¬ 
vidual, the highest correlations can only 
be established in the Infinite, where all 
expressions of the law are known and the 
necessity for every experience of the 
spirit clearly understood. This statement 
is logical and true. Being logical and 
true, and each one of earth a spirit, and 
a child of the Infinite, provisions exist 
for the acquirement of all needful knowl¬ 
edge, enabling the spirit to pass from the 
lower to higher states in its divine unfold- 
ment; nor are the methods of procedure 
as shown for adoption to each individual 
consciousness of doubtful origin or value, 


129 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


but in perfect harmony with spiritual 
needs and powers of comprehension. 

The cosmic idea of the destiny of the 
human race, with the power of reason to 
trace the origin and define the purpose 
of the law, has been revealed in conscious¬ 
ness to man only. He is in essence and 
practically as an objective fact to the sub¬ 
human kingdom, both a god and a mortal, 
for upon such planes he holds relation 
to it. Only through him has been re¬ 
vealed the supernal light, reflected in 
consciousness, as it were, from the very 
throne of the Infinite. He, old as time, 
true to the instincts and intuitions re¬ 
ceived at creation’s dawn, has through all 
the ages, by struggles, conflicts, and trials 
infinite, illustrated the inherent supremacy 
of spirit, and proved himself a son of the 
Eternal Light 

When he shall have entered into the 
companionship of his elder brothers in 
130 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


spirit, received new lessons and revela¬ 
tions of the law, as expressed in its 
higher sublimations, mastered the de¬ 
tails of duty, and perceived their full 
import, he will more clearly understand 
the necessity of all experiences through 
which he has passed. What his final 
destiny, no one who has traced his his¬ 
tory along the thorny paths of experience 
can doubt. Heard he not the still, small 
voice in the beginning ? Were not the 
eyes of his understanding open to the first 
scintillations of light? Did he not per¬ 
ceive some tones of harmony in apparent 
discord ? Has he not already learned the 
first lessons in the order of self ? Has he 
not established among his kind, at least, 
the partial recognition of his neighbors 
right to his own ? And does he not 
recognize the fact of yet much more to 
be accomplished in this direction ? Is 
not such recognition an evidence of his 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


divine origin ? Has he not, under many 
names and in all climes, in sunshine and 
in darkest peril, supplicated the Infinite ? 
Even in pre-historic times, walked he not 
as a king and ruler on the earth ? Reason 
and analogy teach that he did so walk; 
in higher realms the fact is clearly per¬ 
ceived. While it is true that at times 
he has but dimly perceived his duty tow¬ 
ard his kind, and strayed far from the 
light of the higher consciousness, yet, 
through the ministry of personal suffer¬ 
ing, by war and physical death, he has 
been slowly taught the supremacy of the 
unchanging law, and gained admission 
to the higher realms of thought, and 
evolved clearer visions of what can be 
realized through obedience to the lead¬ 
ings of his diviner intuitions. 

Though no two experiences have ever 
been the same, yet a knowledge of univer¬ 
sal truth and harmony is slowly unfolding 


132 


A CELESTIAL MESSAGE 


in the consciousness of man. He is learn¬ 
ing to perceive that his neighbor in the 
bonds of ignorance is but a younger 
brother, a few centuries his junior, and 
that he will soon stand upon the plane 
of his present attainments, and appropri¬ 
ate for profitable use the vibrations of 
truth and love, now so highly prized by 
himself, while in conditions of higher 
realization he shall show him the path 
leading to the heights. 


133 





















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